Who Manages America’s Public Lands?
Teton National Park
Federal public lands are an amazing resource that allow Americans to access millions of acres to use for recreation. These lands, owned by all Americans, are the backbone of a multi-billion dollar outdoor recreation economy, millions of jobs and thriving economies. Management surrounding public lands is complicated, and overlaps with many other topics, including sustainability, inclusivity, and access to the outdoors.
Public lands are managed by four main federal land management agencies in the United States. Three of them exist inside the U.S. Department of Interior. These three agencies include:
National Park Service (NPS)
The fourth agency that manages public lands outside of the Department of Interior is the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), which is housed in the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
We are all walking a thin line between appreciating our public spaces and protecting them. As public land owners, we need to educate ourselves about the issues these spaces face and be mindful of our wilderness use to continue to preserve and enjoy these shared wild spaces. What are your favorite public lands to explore?