This work critically examines the thesis that public lands would be more productive if they were private, or, failing that, managed as if they were private. The discussion includes background chapters on US federal lands, management agencies, economics and ethics.

This text focuses on governmental natural resource and land use policy in the areas of agriculture, energy, forestry, mining, and water. The authors argue that this policy has failed and outlines the need for new ways to encourage the privatization of policy reforms. The contents of the book include the philosophical and constitutional case, the bureaucracy verses the land, the federal estate, and recommendations for policy reform.

Current law requires the federal government to fulfill a broad spectrum of responsibilities in managing public lands; to protect and conserve the environment; to foster the appropriate development of marketable commodities; to preserve wilderness areas, wildlife habitats, and unique historical sites; and to encourage public participation in land-use and management decisions. There is no consensus, however, on the best ways to establish a balance among the? priorities when serious conflicts arise. This book presents a wide-ranging discussion of the means by which lands and resources administered by the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management can better serve present and future needs for environmental preservation and resource development. The contributors consider public and private interests in the federal lands in light of political realities and uncertainties, giving particular: attention to efficiency-versus-equity issues, privatization fair market value, and the income-producing potential of publicly owned assets. Major sections of the book focus on timber, nonfuel minerals, rangelands, and energy resources. Based on a recent conference sponsored by The Wilderness Society, the book reflects the views of conservationists, scholars, industry representatives, and state and federal officials.