Question

3. Review Federal policies regarding the role of public lands in US development. Why did these policies evolve from lands as a revenue source to lands as a free good?

Answer 1

                             Public lands refers to those lands that are open to the public but are controlled by the government. The federal, state and the local government owns the public land in the US. The federal government owns about 28% of the whole public land. Public lands always helps in developing a healthy ecosystem and healthy economics. Since most of the national tourist spots are public lands, it means that it constitutes most of the revenue of the US economy which has lead to the development of the US economy. The National forests, National parks etc forms the major public lands of US. The Federal Land policy and land management Act of 1976 is the major law that governs the public lands governance in the nation. The federal policy states via the act that the public lands must be used by considering the concept of ‘multiple-use’ which states that the land must be used by considering the needs of the present generation by also taking in to consideration the needs of the future generation of American population. This is also in terms with the concept of sustainable development. It governs items like land-use planning, land acquisition, fees and payments, administration of the federal land, range management and the right of ways of the public land.

                        Considering the federal policies as stated above in the management of public land, we can see that the federal policy revolves around the usage of land as a resource and land as a free public good. As we can see that the National parks and similar public lands have restricted entries whereas many newly added public lands are governed by the federal policies that makes sure that the public gets access to the land without any extra service charges or fees. This is to promote the usage of public lands and make sure that they never remain underutilised in their potential. The policy also revolves around the fact that the current generation is being benefited by not compromising the future generation from reaping the benefit. This also makes sure that the public lands are being used in a modest way so that their usage would not lead to the depletion of resources in the area. It is also to be understood that land is a source of revenue at all times, but when the policy shifts towards its usage as a public good, it can make sure that the public lands are never kept unused and hence would protect the same.