Federal Public Land Types: What They Are and How to Protect Them

Federal Public Land Types: What They Are and How to Protect Them

When we speak of federal public land, we are referring to all that part of the physical territory of the United States that is under the direct supervision of the government. These divisions are completely under the control of the federal government and represent a significant percentage of the geography of this country.

But, before we learn how we can protect this type of territory, we need to understand exactly what it encompasses. That is, let’s look at what places fall into the category of federal public land, and how we can easily differentiate them from other types.

Distribution of public lands in the country

It is very clear that when the distribution of land in this country is made, how it can be protected varies according to the category in which it falls. It is for this reason that, in the first place, we must take care to differentiate and recognize them since, in this way, we will know what use will be given to them. But we will also be able to know what laws cover them and what is the financing process for them.

Having a much clearer perception of the situation, it is possible to create convenient plans for their protection, without neglecting any detail in this regard.

What types of federal public land are there?

The first thing to clarify is that there is a great variety of federal public lands, which are contained in different categories. Even so, they are all governed by similar principles and are supervised by the state.

These are the types of federal public land that exist, or at least in their most basic classifications, and also those that are derived from them.

First of all, we have a classification well known to all: National Parks

It could be said that this is the most common classification and the most easily recognized by all U.S. citizens. However, what many do not know is that the national park system encompasses not only those places whose names we know well but also includes: historic sites, monuments, rivers, reserves, trails and other places.

National Forests are also an important part of this list

And this is because in the country there is a great amount of these formations. It is known that there are 154 national forests throughout the national territory. And more than half of these forests are protected and have as their main objective the preservation of species and recreation.

National Trails are other types of federal public land

Here enter 4 subdivisions of trails, recreational, scenic, connecting and historic. In this case, these trails are protected by the National Park Service. This type of land is also recognized by a large number of citizens.

Other classifications

• National Wild and Scenic River System.
• Wilderness areas.
• National recreation areas.
• National wildlife refuges.
• Natural conservation lands.

How to protect federal public lands?

All issues related to the preservation and protection of each type of federal public land, do not have a long life span, which means that they are constantly subject to change. There are known plans for construction and other similar activities in these protected areas.

These types of projects and constructions can be varied, as they can have different objectives. When presented with this variety, some may be classified as necessary or opportune, while others have been rejected as inappropriate.

There are already efficient ways to protect this land, and the struggle is evident when stakeholders are faced with the cancellation of their projects. The most common way to defend this territory is through groups and organizations.

There are a large number of people who join forces to present their discontent with the projects that ruthlessly want to be implemented, regardless of the consequences. These organizations work tirelessly to present proposals and rejections to what some people are planning against these spaces.

The results of this struggle are visible, and the most important thing is to present themselves before competent organizations so that no influence can change the course of any decision.

So, can the territory be effectively defended from plans that may harm them? Of course, it is. And one of the first steps to achieve this is to know in depth how these territories are distributed and protected. By having a higher level of knowledge in this regard, more timely work can be achieved.

But, all this must go far beyond enriching knowledge, since there are other options to take action.

One of them is to become part of these groups that fight to maintain and conserve these places, preventing them from being used for other purposes.

Even so, something more definitive would be to make a radical change in the laws established for their protection, where not only something provisional is established for this, but it becomes something permanent.