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In all modern states, some land is held by central or local governments. This is called 'public land'. The system of tenure of public land, and the terminology used, varies between countries. The following examples illustrate some of the range.
In several Commonwealth countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada, public lands are referred to as Crown lands. Recent proposals to sell Crown lands have been highly controversial.
In France, public land (French: ''domaine public'') may he held by communes, ''départements'', or the central State.
In the United States governmental entities including cities, counties, states, and the federal government all manage land which are referred to as either 'public lands' or the public domain.
The majority of public lands in the United States are held in trust for the American people by the federal government and managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or the Fish and Wildlife Service under the Department of the Interior, or the United States Forest Service under the Department of Agriculture. National parks and monuments are also public lands managed by the National Park Service, which is also part of the Interior Department. Other federal agencies that manage public lands include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
In general, Congress must legislate the creation of new public lands, such as national parks; however, under the 1906 Antiquities Act, the President may designate new national monuments without congressional authorization.
Each western state also received federal "public land" as trust lands designated for specific beneficiaries, which the States are to manage as a condition to acceptance into the union. Those trust lands cannot any longer be considered public lands as allowing any benefits to the "public" would be in breach of loyalty to the specific beneficiaries. The trust lands (two sections, or about 1280 acres per township) are usually managed extractively (grazing or mining), to provide revenue for public schools. All states have some lands under state management, such as state parks, state wildlife management areas, and state forests.
Wilderness is a special designation for public lands which have been completely undeveloped. Wilderness areas can be managed by any of the above Federal agencies, and some parks and refuges are almost entirely designated wilderness. A wilderness study area is a tract of land that has wilderness characteristics, and is managed as wilderness, but has not received a wilderness designation from Congress.
Typically each parcel is governed by its own set of laws and rules that explain the purpose for which the land was acquired, and how the land may be used.
Most state- and federally managed public lands are open for recreational use. Recreation opportunities depend on the managing agency, and run the gamut from the free-for-all, undeveloped wide open spaces of BLM lands to the highly developed and controlled national and state parks. Wildlife refuges and state wildlife management areas, managed primarily to improve habitat, are generally open to wildlife watching, hiking, and hunting, except for closures to protect mating and nesting, or to reduce stress on wintering animals. National forests generally have a mix of maintained trails and roads, wilderness and undeveloped portions, and developed picnic and camping areas.
Historically in the western United States, most public land is leased for grazing by cattle or sheep. This includes vast tracts of National Forest and BLM land, as well as land on Wildlife Refuges. National Parks are the exception. This use became controversial in the late 20th century as it was examined by environmentalists. [1]
★ Public Lands Information Center: state and federal lands in the Western U.S.
★ Recreation on Federal Lands: United States/ nationwide
★ Nancy Ferguson, ''Sacred Cows at the Public Trough'', Maverick Publications (December, 1983), trade paperback, ISBN 0-89288-091-0
1. Pages 14-73, "The Public Lands Debate", Sharman Apt Russell, ''Kill the Cowboy: A Battle of Mythology in the New West'', Addison-Wesley (May, 1993), hardcover, 218 pages, ISBN 0-201-58123-X
| Contents |
| Commonwealth countries |
| France |
| United States |
| Recreation on U.S. public lands |
| Grazing on U.S. public lands |
| External links for U.S. public lands |
| Further reading |
| Footnotes |
Commonwealth countries
In several Commonwealth countries such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada, public lands are referred to as Crown lands. Recent proposals to sell Crown lands have been highly controversial.
France
In France, public land (French: ''domaine public'') may he held by communes, ''départements'', or the central State.
United States
In the United States governmental entities including cities, counties, states, and the federal government all manage land which are referred to as either 'public lands' or the public domain.
The majority of public lands in the United States are held in trust for the American people by the federal government and managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or the Fish and Wildlife Service under the Department of the Interior, or the United States Forest Service under the Department of Agriculture. National parks and monuments are also public lands managed by the National Park Service, which is also part of the Interior Department. Other federal agencies that manage public lands include the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
In general, Congress must legislate the creation of new public lands, such as national parks; however, under the 1906 Antiquities Act, the President may designate new national monuments without congressional authorization.
Each western state also received federal "public land" as trust lands designated for specific beneficiaries, which the States are to manage as a condition to acceptance into the union. Those trust lands cannot any longer be considered public lands as allowing any benefits to the "public" would be in breach of loyalty to the specific beneficiaries. The trust lands (two sections, or about 1280 acres per township) are usually managed extractively (grazing or mining), to provide revenue for public schools. All states have some lands under state management, such as state parks, state wildlife management areas, and state forests.
Wilderness is a special designation for public lands which have been completely undeveloped. Wilderness areas can be managed by any of the above Federal agencies, and some parks and refuges are almost entirely designated wilderness. A wilderness study area is a tract of land that has wilderness characteristics, and is managed as wilderness, but has not received a wilderness designation from Congress.
Typically each parcel is governed by its own set of laws and rules that explain the purpose for which the land was acquired, and how the land may be used.
Recreation on U.S. public lands
Most state- and federally managed public lands are open for recreational use. Recreation opportunities depend on the managing agency, and run the gamut from the free-for-all, undeveloped wide open spaces of BLM lands to the highly developed and controlled national and state parks. Wildlife refuges and state wildlife management areas, managed primarily to improve habitat, are generally open to wildlife watching, hiking, and hunting, except for closures to protect mating and nesting, or to reduce stress on wintering animals. National forests generally have a mix of maintained trails and roads, wilderness and undeveloped portions, and developed picnic and camping areas.
Grazing on U.S. public lands
Historically in the western United States, most public land is leased for grazing by cattle or sheep. This includes vast tracts of National Forest and BLM land, as well as land on Wildlife Refuges. National Parks are the exception. This use became controversial in the late 20th century as it was examined by environmentalists. [1]
External links for U.S. public lands
★ Public Lands Information Center: state and federal lands in the Western U.S.
★ Recreation on Federal Lands: United States/ nationwide
Further reading
★ Nancy Ferguson, ''Sacred Cows at the Public Trough'', Maverick Publications (December, 1983), trade paperback, ISBN 0-89288-091-0
Footnotes
1. Pages 14-73, "The Public Lands Debate", Sharman Apt Russell, ''Kill the Cowboy: A Battle of Mythology in the New West'', Addison-Wesley (May, 1993), hardcover, 218 pages, ISBN 0-201-58123-X
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