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The federal government holds a vast domain of American land. Does it hold these acres in trust for future generations and for the planet itself? Or does it hold them as a resource for economic development and growth? Indeed, should it hold them at all? These questions became a focal point for New Right politics in the 1980 presidential election that brought Ronald Reagan into the White House. The Sagebrush Rebellion and the New Right attempted to convince the public that environmentalism threatened the nation's wellbeing. Environmentalists sought new ground for fighting back. In this cogent analysis of the public lands debate, Brant Short looks at the New Right's positions and the strategies for advancing them, the origins of dissatisfaction in the Sagebrush Rebellion, and the opposition that arose as a new conservation consensus was formed. Short's approach places the contemporary conservation debate clearly within the context of environmental issues that have confronted Americans throughout our history. The perspective he offers on recurring rhetorical strategies illuminates the continuing schism over how our public lands should be used and maintained.

Public land management and ownership came under increasing scrutiny in the 1980s, partly because of the increased value of federal lands; prized for their timber, minerals, energy, and amenity outputs. The personal touch and wisdom of one of these prolific and thoughtful writers on land use issues ensure that this book is a valuable addition to a literature to which Dr. Clawson already has made enormous contributions. For its readers, this book provides fresh insights and suggests new approaches to a problem that has been heavily discussed.

First Published in 2018. An explanation of changes in US Congress policies that affect the management of rangeland, timber, energy, mineral, and wilderness resources in the West of the country. The contributors examine policy decisions within the context of political, economic and demographic forces.

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.