Counties with public lands today tend to have larger, more diverse, and slightly older populations.
Public Lands
Shopping for Wolves: Using Nonmarket Valuation to Inform Conservation Decisions
Nonmarket valuation tools have evolved over time and are now relied upon for important policy decisions and litigation.
Valuing Protected Public Lands
As we work to protect wildlands, we must also ensure that amenity-led growth benefits a wide range of people and builds community.
The Evolution of Economic Analysis of Public Land Management
Advances in economic valuation methods have improved public lands management.
The Original Purpose of Federal Lands
Federally managed public lands were originally intended to provide and protect public goods and services while constraining commercial activities.
Community Resilience and the Third West in Transition
In the face of overwhelming transition, local institutions can make a critical difference in rural community resilience.
Commercial Activities on National Forests
Updated: Headwaters Economics produced two interactive maps to show the range of commercial activities on National Forests at the Forest, state and forest region levels.
Redesignating Bandelier National Monument as a National Park
Study on the economic impacts of redesignating Bandelier National Monument as a National Park with case studies of other Monuments converted to National Parks.
Bureau of Land Management Socioeconomic Profiles
Download socioeconomic reports for states and counties near Bureau of Land Management units.
Impact of National Monuments Redesignated National Parks
Investigating the economic effects of National Monuments redesignated National Parks, and the potential impact of converting the White Sands National Monument to a National Park.
Endowing Federal Public Land Counties
Reforming county payments by establishing a permanent Trust to fund Secure Rural Schools (SRS).
Montana’s Economy, Public Lands, and Competitive Advantage
This report summarizes Montana’s economy analyzing recent growth and what is driving its performance, including a description of how federal lands help attract people, investment, and businesses.
The Economic Importance of National Monuments to Communities
This research and interactive charts show that the local economies adjacent to all 17 national monuments studied in the West expanded following the monument’s creation.
President’s Budget Proposal Cuts County Payments
New analysis and interactive map show how the President’s budget proposal cuts county payments and the impact for every county in the nation.
The Value of Public Lands
Headwaters Economics compiled a number of regional reports, case studies, tools, research library, and related news articles on the value of public lands to nearby communities.
The Economic Value of Federal Public Lands (slides)
Slide show: The role of federal lands in rural development.
Rural Communities, School Kids, and Federal Lands in the West
While most western rural counties are aging and losing young families, the loss of school kids in rural western counties with protected lands such as National Monuments was, on average, less than half the rate of loss for similar counties without protected lands.
Time to Create a Natural Resources Trust
Unlike most countries and state governments, the U.S. has not created a natural resources trust which could help meet volatility and spending challenges facing local and county governments.
Federal Lands in the West: Liability or Asset?
Update: Rural counties in the West with more federal lands performed better on average than their peers with less federal lands in four key economic measures.
County Payments Research
County governments are compensated for the tax-exempt status of federal public lands within their boundaries. These payments often constitute a significant portion of county and school budgets, particularly in rural counties with extensive public land ownership.