Managing Public Lands in the Public Interest

Book excerpt: This collection of essays thoroughly discusses the controversies surrounding public land management. Leading academics and policy makers examine various uses of public lands--and the views of those who use these national resources. The articles convey the varied interests and experiences of the authors in the field of land management; yet, all convey a number of crucial themes: the impossibiblity of terminating public land use; the necessity of continuing private use and multiple use; the need for sound policies to ensure the land's productivity; and the need for public involvement in land management. This sweeping examination will interest land resource managers, academics in environmental engineering, and government policy makers.