Land Resources and Land Resources and ConservationConservation

How Do We Use Our Public How Do We Use Our Public Lands?Lands?

Table of ContentsTable of Contents

• Introduction• What are Public Lands?• Multiple Use Lands - National Resource• Multiple Use Lands – Forest System• Moderately Restricted Use – National Wildlife Re

fuges• Restricted Use Lands – National Park System• Restricted Use Lands – Wilderness Areas• Importance of Public Lands• The End

IntroductionIntroduction

• Think of something (not someone) that is very important to you --- Car, book, baseball glove, etc.

• Now imagine that you have to choose someone to take care of your favorite thing. What characteristics would you want that person to have?

What are Public Lands?What are Public Lands?

• Public lands are natural areas in the United States that are managed by the government.

• Most federally owned land is in Alaska and 11 western states. ¾ of this land is in Alaska.

• There are three types of public lands

1. multiple use

2. moderately restricted-use

3. restricted-use lands

Multiple Use LandsMultiple Use Lands National Resource LandsNational Resource Lands

• Used for domestic supply of energy and minerals, rangelands for livestock grazing under a permit system.

• Managed by: Bureau of Land Management (BLM)

Multiple Use LandsMultiple Use LandsNational Forest SystemNational Forest System

• Includes forest and grasslands

• Used for logging, mining, livestock grazing, farming, oil and gas extraction, recreation, sport hunting, sport and commercial fishing

• Managed by U.S. Forest Service

Moderately Restricted Use LandsModerately Restricted Use Lands National Wildlife RefugesNational Wildlife Refuges

• Used for sport hunting, sport and commercial fishing, oil and gas development, mining, logging, grazing some military activities, and farming

• Managed by: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Restricted Use LandsRestricted Use Lands National Park SystemNational Park System

• Recreation areas monuments, memorials, battlefields

• Uses include: National Parks: camping,

hiking, sport fishing and boating. Motor vehicles permitted only on roads

National Recreation Areas: same as above plus sport hunting, mining, oil and gas drilling

Managed by: National Park Service

Restricted Use LandsRestricted Use LandsWilderness AreasWilderness Areas

• Areas not greatly disturbed by human activities.

• Used for hiking sport fishing, camping, nonmotorized boating, sport hunting and horseback riding

• Managed by: National Park Service, US Forest Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management depending on where the wilderness is located.

PracticePractice

Which of the following is managed on a multiple-use basis?

a. national wildlife refuges

b. national wilderness areas

c. national parks

d. national resource lands

AnswerAnswer

D. National Resource Lands

PracticePractice

Which of the following is managed as moderately restricted-use lands?

a. National parks

b. National forest

c. National resource lands

d. National wildlife refuges

AnswerAnswer

D. National Wildlife Refuges

PracticePractice

Which of the following is managed on a restricted-use basis?

a. National parks

b. National forest

c. Nation resource lands

d. National wildlife refuges

Answer:Answer:

A. National Parks

Importance of Public LandsImportance of Public Lands

List reasons why you think public lands are:

–Ecologically important

–Economically important

–Aesthetically important.

Current Land Use in the U.S.Current Land Use in the U.S.

• About 55% of the land in the U.S. is privately owned by citizens, corporations, and nonprofit organizations.

• About 35% is owned by the federal government

• About 7% is owned by state and local governments

• About 3% is owned by Native American tribes

Ecological IntegrityEcological Integrity

• The conditions and natural processes (energy flow, matter cycling, species interactions) that generate and maintain biodiversity and allow evolutionary change as a key mechanism for adapting to changes in environmental conditions.

• Every country and region has 3 forms of wealth: Material, Cultural, and Biological

• Ecological health: the degree to which a n area’s biodiversity and ecological integrity remain intact.

3 Forms of Wealth3 Forms of Wealth

• Every country and region has 3 forms of wealth:

Material, Cultural, and Biological

• Ecological health: the degree to which a n area’s biodiversity and ecological integrity remain intact.

Class AssignmentClass Assignment

Reading Guide for Chapter 12

Complete the reading guide as your

read through Chapter 12.