America's Public Lands: A Sketch of Their Political History and Future Challenges

Abstract

This essay outlines major themes that emerge from Our Common Ground (Yale U. Press, 2022), my comprehensive political history of America's more than 600 million acres of federally owned lands. These lands are managed primary for conservation and recreation, and generally command support by a strong majority of Americans regardless of region or political party. It then offers some reflections about what may lie ahead for these lands, especially given global challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss, and rising interest in recreational use and growing demands by Native entities for more influence on them.

Keywords: Public Lands, Natural Resources, Wilderness Protection, Biodiversity Protection, Climate Change