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Public lands make up approximately one-third of the United States—that’s nearly 600 million acres that belong to you! Yet, this national inheritance is unknown to millions of Americans. As the nation’s urban areas expand, open spaces become ever more important to our quality of life.
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Geography Action! defines public lands as everything from national parks, forests, and wildlife refuges to urban parks and gardens. Included in this mix are greenways and riverways, as well as historic landmarks and landscapes.
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| U.S. PUBLIC LANDS 101: QUICK FACTS | | |
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The story of America’s public lands is the history of our nation. It is a story of victories and defeats, hopes and disappointments, justices and injustices, of men and women looking for better lives, or fighting to keep the lives they have known. It is a story written on landscapes of incredible beauty and richness.
- The public lands of the United States cover more than 600 million acres—almost one third of our country! Public lands include national parks, national seashores, national wildlife refuges, wilderness areas, national forests, monuments, select lakes and seashores, underground mineral reserves, marine sanctuaries, historic and scenic trails and national grasslands.
- Most of the nation’s public lands are concentrated in the western states. Nearly 83 percent of Nevada; 68 percent of Alaska; 64 percent of Utah; 61 percent of Idaho; 52 percent of Oregon; 49 percent of Wyoming; and 44 percent of California is public land managed by the federal government.
- All 50 states have at least one area designated as public land. Do you know where the public lands are located in your state?
- The public lands of the West include some of the crown jewels of our national park system: Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Denali, and the Grand Tetons. The western states also have many national forests and national wildlife refuges.
- Whether you live near or far from them, public lands play an important role in the lives of all Americans. They provide a wealth of natural resources including minerals, coal, oil, gas and timber; they are a source of clean air and water. Public lands protect ecosystems; play a role in our country’s defense; and offer places for outdoor recreation and spiritual renewal.
- Certain public lands have been seriously impacted by overuse, and nearby communities have become overwhelmed by the periodic influx of visitors. We are learning the hard way that the unregulated recreation of the past few decades can have long-lasting negative impacts on the land.
- Public lands fall under the stewardship of several federal and state agencies. To learn about these public land agencies, their missions of stewardship, and the lands they manage, go to the list of America’s Backyard Program Partners.
There are many things, some taking only five minutes, that we can do as stewards of our public lands! For a list, go to our Take Action! activities.
Photographs (left to right): from Reed Kaestner/CORBIS; by Sarah Lean; by Jodi Cobb
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