The bipartisan Forest Health for Rural Stability Act would establish a federal land endowment and resolve key challenges of federal land payments to counties.
United States
Seniors in counties without hospitals are at the greatest risk
Nearly one in five U.S. counties has a higher-than-average share of seniors and no hospital beds.
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.
Outdoor Recreation and New Mexico’s Economy
Outdoor recreation is a way of life and economic powerhouse for New Mexico. New Mexico residents enjoy outdoor recreation on more than 35 million acres of public lands and the outdoor recreation economy directly supports $1.2 billion in income and 33,500 jobs.
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.
Using Economics to Support Climate Adaptation
Economic methods and data can engage diverse audiences and tell new stories to help cities make a case for climate adaptation.
Newsletter: November 2019
Our latest newsletter contains research on state trust lands in transition, state outdoor recreation economies, wildfire-resistant homes, and more. Subscribe to our newsletter.
State Trust Lands: 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 Lands: Permanent Funds
Overspending of state trust permanent funds reduces future school funding and incentivizes sales of trust land and nonrenewable resources.
State Trust Lands: New Demands
Changing economies, new land uses, shifting social values, and political pressure create challenges for state trust land managers.
State Trust Lands: 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.
Building for Wildfire Summit: Understanding How Homes Burn
Video and highlights from an event that brought together diverse community leaders to explore practices for building fire-adapted communities.
The Outdoor Recreation Economy by State
The outdoor recreation economy is large, growing faster than the overall economy, and consists of jobs in many industries. Explore data by state.
Newsletter: September 2019
Our latest newsletter contains research on transit equity analysis for Denver, CO, funding needs for Montana’s outdoors, a custom socioeconomic tool for the US Fish & Wildlife Service, and more. Subscribe to our newsletter.
Solutions for Transitioning Coal-Dependent Communities
The most effective fiscal policies for communities facing transition away from coal dependency are those that build wealth over time and strengthen community capacity.
The Value of Montana’s Outdoors
Montana’s outdoors attracts people and talent, creating jobs and a high quality of life. The outdoors is essential to the state’s future economic growth.
Denver Transit Equity Analysis
Identify where potential bus rapid transit corridors in the Denver, Colorado Metro Area are most likely to enhance mobility and equity.
Funding Needs for Montana’s Outdoor Heritage
Funding for Montana’s working lands, wildlife, and outdoor recreation is not keeping pace as population, visitation, and development pressures expand.
Newsletter: July 2019
Our latest newsletter contains research on the economic importance of public lands, wildfire hazard assessments, and rural resilience. Subscribe to our newsletter.
Wildfire Hazard Assessments Inform Land Use Planning
Wildfire hazard assessment maps can help communities build safer neighborhoods, prioritize mitigation resources, and adapt to wildfire.