Poll Shows Overwhelming Support for Idaho’s Public Lands, Conservation Policy

One of the more than 90% of resident polled who reported using Idaho’s public lands. Photo: File/IWF

2022 Conservation in the West Poll exposes rift between public opinion and political policy 

By Daniel Ritz, IWF Staff

The people of Idaho have spoken. But are our politicians listening? 

The 2022 Conservation of the West Poll shows residents of eight western states (AZ,CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY) overwhelmingly support conservation of natural landscapes and wildlife; favoring the expansion of outdoor opportunity and policies enshrining conservation.

In Idaho, the poll of residents from across the political spectrum (R: 44%, D: 15%, Independent: 34%) clearly showcases the public’s support for public lands, water and wildlife, and acknowledges their value to Idaho’s economy. Idahoans even elevate the importance of protecting their outdoor ways of life to other top tier political issues like the economy, healthcare and education when considering support for elected officials. 

Some specifics from the poll: 

• 90% of Idahoans polled used public lands.

• 83% of Idahoans polled say issues of wildlife, clean water, and public lands are as important as other issues like the economy, health care and education, when supporting an elected public official.

• ¾ of  Idahoans polled:

  • Think public lands are “very important” to the economy.

  • Agree with creating new national parks, national monuments, national wildlife refuges and tribal protected areas to protect historic sites or areas for outdoor recreation. 

• ⅔ of Idahoans polled are:

  • Worried about the future of Idaho’s outdoors.

  • Concerned about poorly planned growth/development.

  • In favor of conservation of public lands over energy production.

  • Supportive of setting a national goal of conserving thirty percent of land and inland waters in America, and thirty percent of its ocean areas by the year 2030.

 "The poll's numbers are staggering and confirm the vital role the outdoors play in Idahoan's lives and livelihoods. Despite this, we do not often see these values reflected in policy by our elected officials in Idaho,” said IWF executive director Brian Brooks. “That is why the Idaho Wildlife Federation is committed to mobilizing and elevating community networks across the state to showcase grassroots support for conservation and the outdoors through various programs that connect people to politicians."

Even with data like this, in the Idaho statehouse we have seen dozens of anti-conservation bills surface and passed over the last few years while pro-conservation bills have been voted down. Take the passage of HRC 8 for instance, which paid out-of-state anti-public lands advocates $250,000 of Idaho taxpayer dollars for their latest public land seizure grift, while SB 1089, which would’ve provided protections for access to public lands and roads, failed to advance out of committee.

Brooks added, “There is a disconnect between the conservation values of Idahoans and the workings of our policy makers, unfortunately. Polls like these and the work of groups like IWF can help reduce that disconnect.”

To learn more about your representatives track record, visit IWF’s Legislative Voting Record page.

 Do you have questions or comments concerning this survey? Want to learn more about how IWF is strategically connecting Idahoans to politicians ? Contact Communications and Outreach Coordinator Daniel RItz at DRitz@IdahoWIldlife.Org. 

Selway-Bitteroot Wilderness, Idaho. Photo: Daniel Ritz/ IWF