The Wilderness Society awards former Interior Secretary Deb Haaland its top honor
Former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland
Deb for New Mexico
Secretary Haaland is a historic and visionary leader
Today, The Wilderness Society announced its selection of former U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland as the recipient of the 2025 Ansel Adams Award for Conservation, the organization’s highest honor for a public servant. The award recognizes Secretary Haaland’s historic and visionary leadership in public lands protection, tribal co-stewardship and climate action.
“Deb Haaland’s leadership in conservation has been transformational,” said The Wilderness Society President Tracy Stone-Manning. “She’s protected millions of acres, elevated Indigenous leadership, charted a path for a clean energy economy and made sure our public lands serve everyone. Her vision, courage and compassion set a new standard for what public lands leadership should look like.”
Secretary Haaland played a central role in restoring protections to Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments. She also led the creation of several new national monuments that reflect the depth and diversity of America’s natural and cultural heritage. These include the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument in Arizona and Avi Kwa Ame in Nevada—both of which protect nationally significant landscapes, support tribal stewardship and expand public access. Under her leadership, the Interior Department also expanded California’s Berryessa Snow Mountain and San Gabriel Mountains National Monuments and Texas’ Castner Range National Monument, responding to long-standing advocacy from underserved communities seeking stronger protections for culturally and ecologically important lands.
In 2024, Secretary Haaland finalized the Bureau of Land Management’s Public Lands Rule, a transformative policy that puts conservation, restoration and recreation on equal footing with development across 245 million acres of public lands. She also played a key role in advancing protections for the Western Arctic, including protecting 13 million acres from oil and gas development and rejecting the controversial Ambler Road. Secretary Haaland also oversaw a historic investment into the Interior Department’s Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership program, helping create and expand outdoor access in underserved communities across the country.
“Where I grew up in New Mexico, the landscapes and our connection to the water and the land are part of who we are, and I learned early that many communities are left out of the conversation or completely left behind,” said Ansel Adams Award Recipient Deb Haaland. “Conservation isn't just about protecting places. It's about creating a future where everyone can see themselves in our public lands and feel a sense of belonging there. I appreciate The Wilderness Society for recognizing that vision and for their leadership in ensuring public lands serve all people. How we manage our public lands matters, because without our planet, we have nothing."
Secretary Haaland brings her lived experiences to everything she does and has been a lifelong champion of America’s public lands. Before becoming the first Native American Cabinet secretary, she served as a member of Congress representing New Mexico’s 1st District, where she was a leading voice on the House Natural Resources Committee. Haaland is currently running to be the next governor of New Mexico, a state rich in natural and cultural heritage.
The Ansel Adams Award is named after the renowned nature photographer and conservationist Ansel Adams, who dedicated his life and work to the preservation of national parks and wilderness areas. The annual award recognizes an individual whose work embodies this legacy of conservation and environmental stewardship. Previous recipients include President Jimmy Carter, Vice President Al Gore, Secretaries of the Interior Stewart Udall and Ken Salazar, CEQ Chair Katie McGinty, Senators Maria Cantwell and Dianne Feinstein, House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi and Representatives John Lewis, Raul Grijalva and George Miller.
About The Wilderness Society
The Wilderness Society is a leading conservation organization dedicated to protecting America’s wild places for future generations. Founded in 1935, our mission is to unite people to protect America’s natural landscapes, ensuring they remain vital, resilient and accessible. Through science, advocacy and community engagement, The Wilderness Society champions the preservation of wilderness areas, national parks, forests and other public lands, striving to inspire a culture of conservation and responsible stewardship. For more information visit www.wilderness.org.
Contact: newsmedia@tws.org
