Citizen’s Issue Summary: Public Lands

How Much Land Is Enough?

The federal government owns nearly 30 percent of all land in the United States. Most of this public land is managed by four agencies: the Bureau of Land Management, the Forest Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service. This land is used for a variety of purposes, such as grazing, logging, mining, wildlife refuges, wilderness areas, and national parks. However, few people are happy with most of the government’s land management practices, which have damaged the environment and prevented the efficient use of resources. Despite these problems, there is talk in Washington of taking over even more land.

Why should taxpayers support more federal ownership?


Public Land:

How Well Does Government Manage Our Natural Resources?

(PDF format, 2 p. 296 Kb)