How did Taft's appointee Richard Ballinger anger conservationists?

Richard Ballinger, appointed by President Taft as Secretary of the Interior, angered conservationists by attempting to open up previously protected public lands in Wyoming and Alaska for commercial development and private interests. His decision to reverse conservation policies implemented by his predecessor, Gifford Pinchot, and to lease large tracts of land to private companies sparked a significant backlash. This conflict culminated in a public rift between Ballinger and Pinchot, ultimately leading to a broader divide within the Republican Party regarding conservation issues.