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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.

Economic Impact of National Parks

This interactive and background materials show visits, spending, and the number of jobs created in gateway communities for every National Park Service unit.

Public Land Ownership in the United States

Public lands influence the economy, demographics, and fiscal policies of communities. Explore maps and county-level data for the 828 million acres of federal, state, and municipal land in the U.S.

State Trust Land sign posted at road with rugged landscape. Cacti and sage are throughout the landscape.

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.

Public Lands Forum logo over image of the Sequoia Red Wood forest

People and Public Lands Essays

What is the economic impact of America’s public lands and waters? How can we quantify how these remarkable resources contribute to our quality of life? And how are our valuation methods and public policies changing?

Recent Public Lands Research

Commercial receipts earned from management of public lands.

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.

Aerial view of rural town in Montana. (Martinsdale, MT)

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.

Headwaters-staff-Mark-Haggerty

PILT Proposal Would Help Small-Population Counties

Analysis shows raising Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) population limits for small-population counties would have increased total payments by $2 million in 2019.

State Trust Land sign posted at road with rugged landscape. Cacti and sage are throughout the landscape.

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.

State Trust Land sign posted at road with rugged landscape. Cacti and sage are throughout the landscape.

State Trust Lands Part 2: Permanent Funds

Overspending of state trust permanent funds reduces future school funding and incentivizes sales of trust land and nonrenewable resources.

State Trust Land sign posted at road with rugged landscape. Cacti and sage are throughout the landscape.

State Trust Lands Part 3: New Demands

Changing economies, new land uses, shifting social values, and political pressure create challenges for state trust land managers.

A sign states "State Trust Land, No Trespassing" along a road in Arizona.

State Trust Lands Part 4: Implications for Federal Land Transfer

Advocates of transferring federal land to states point to the superior ability of state trust lands to generate revenue, but our analysis finds significant economic and fiscal disadvantages.

Public Land Ownership in the United States

Public lands influence the economy, demographics, and fiscal policies of communities. Explore maps and county-level data for the 828 million acres of federal, state, and municipal land in the U.S.

Public Lands Forum logo over image of the Sequoia Red Wood forest

People and Public Lands Essays

What is the economic impact of America’s public lands and waters? How can we quantify how these remarkable resources contribute to our quality of life? And how are our valuation methods and public policies changing?

Public Lands Forum logo over image of the Sequoia Red Wood forest

The Overlooked Importance of Federal Public Land Fiscal Policy

Fiscal policy reforms could substantially increase the economic benefits of public lands for states and local communities.

See all research under Public Lands

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