Federal Land Ownership

Today the federal government owns and manages roughly 635640 million acres of land. Federal lands and resources have been important in American history, adding to the strength and stature of the federal government, serving as an attraction and opportunity for settlement and economic development, and providing a source of revenue for schools, transportation, national defence, and other national, state, and local needs. Ownership and use of federal lands have stirred controversy for decades. This book examines the conflicting public values concerning federal lands, including the extent to which the federal government should own land; whether to focus resources on maintenance of existing infrastructure and lands or acquisition of new areas; how to balance use and protection; and how to ensure the security of international borders along the federal lands of multiple agencies.