Public Lands
Protected federal lands—such as wilderness, national parks, or national monuments—are important economic assets that attract people and businesses, as well as new jobs and income. Our research helps communities understand the benefits of nearby public lands.
Featured research
National public lands are vital to local economies
The growing connection between livelihoods and public lands calls for more investments in public access, preserving ecosystems, and minimizing privatization.
Housing on public lands will be limited by wildfire risk and development challenges
Federal public lands may offer opportunities to improve housing affordability in a limited number of states, but will face significant barriers from wildfire risk, water availability, and conflicts with existing resource or recreation uses.
Diversifying revenue on New Mexico state trust lands
New activities can help guarantee and diversify future revenue from New Mexico state trust lands, complementing the successful Land Grant Permanent Fund.
Public Lands Research
Our outdoor recreation program produces original research and data analysis that helps communities leverage their natural amenities to diversify their economies. We help community leaders make the case for improved public lands access, bring advanced data methods into land management decisions, and balance the growing pains that many communities face as they attract new visitors and residents.
Agency Socioeconomic tools:
Interactive:
Economic impact of National Parks
America’s national parks draw visitors from around the world. Since the 1980s, the number of total visitors to National Park Service units has been trending up, with a brief decline in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Overall, visitation grew by 4% across the National Park System from 2022 to 2023, generating 415,400 jobs and resulting in more than $26.4 billion in spending in nearby communities.
Recent Public Lands Posts
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National public lands are vital to local economies
The growing connection between livelihoods and public lands calls for more investments in public access, preserving ecosystems, and minimizing privatization. Read more
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Housing on public lands will be limited by wildfire risk and development challenges
Federal public lands may offer opportunities to improve housing affordability in a limited number of states, but will face significant barriers from wildfire risk, water availability, and conflicts with existing resource or recreation uses. Read more
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Economic Impact of National Parks
Millions of national park visitors generate economic opportunities for gateway communities, spending money that creates jobs and income. See the trends for every national park service unit. Read more
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Measuring trail use in Montana’s Bridger mountains
Detailed estimates of summer trail use help show the impacts of growing recreational use and highlight infrastructure needs in southwest Montana. Read more
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Diversifying revenue on New Mexico state trust lands
New activities can help guarantee and diversify future revenue from New Mexico state trust lands, complementing the successful Land Grant Permanent Fund. Read more
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Federal Fossil Fuel Disbursements to States
States tend to spend, rather than save, federal fossil fuel disbursements, potentially making them vulnerable to economic transitions. Read more
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National monuments can boost local economies
Recent studies find that national monument designations do not negatively impact local economic performance, and in many cases strengthen local economies. Read more
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Building a Federal Land Endowment
The bipartisan Forest Health for Rural Stability Act would establish a federal land endowment and resolve key challenges of federal land payments to counties. Read more
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Tension as Catalyst: Public Lands and the Rural West
View a presentation given at the Our America’s Rural Opportunity forum about the context of public lands and the rural west. Read more
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State Trust Lands Part 1: The Trust Model
States were granted trust lands by the U.S. Congress to generate revenue to fund public institutions, primarily public schools. Read more