Why Federal Lands Are So Wildly Controversial in the West
Long-simmering tensions over federal land use underlie armed protest in Oregon.
Federal ownership of land in the western United States has triggered conflicts for decades. On Saturday, a group of about 20 armed protesters occupied the headquarters of a National Wildlife Refuge in rural eastern Oregon, seeking return of federal lands to local ranchers and loggers.
The federal government manages these lands in an effort to balance environmental protection and conservation with permitted uses. In response, ranchers, private land owners, and some local and state governments have fought for more control over how the land is used. In some cases, this has led to high-profile protests like the one that erupted Saturday.
The refuge in eastern Oregon was established in 1908 by President Theodore Roosevelt to protect waterfowl, such as ducks and
