Public Lands

Angeles National Forest

National Forests Were Highly Popular in 2020

New data shows more people than ever visited national forests and grasslands last year, according to a Forest Service report

June 1, 2021 - U.S. Forest Service

Bureau of Land Management

Can the U.S. Preserve 30 Percent of its Lands and Waters?

The Biden administration released its preliminary report on a plan to conserve 30 percent of the nation's lands and waters by 2030, one big, ambitious component of the administration's climate plans.

May 9, 2021 - The Washington Post

Yellowstone

Veterans and Gold Star Families Can Now Visit National Parks for Free

A small token of gratitude to the veterans who fought to protect the freedoms of the United States, and the families who sacrificed everything.

November 11, 2020 - The Washington Post

Tongass National Forest

Protections Stripped From Alaska's Tongass National Forest

The Trump administration has, in the past week before the election, achieved one of the largest rollbacks of public land protections of its entire tenure.

October 30, 2020 - The Washington Post

Hiking Trail

The 'Great American Outdoors Act' Signed Into Law

By signing this new law into effect, President Trump seems ot have departed from his administration's previous actions on public lands.

August 5, 2020 - The Mercury News

Bears Ears National Monument

President's Record on Conservation Criticized

President Trump has weakened protections for 35 million acres of public land, despite repeating his intentions to surpass the model for conservation set by President Teddy Roosevelt.

May 27, 2020 - Center for American Progress

National Parks

Cell Towers: Coming to the National Parks

With the Trump administration's support, private industry is busy building new broadband infrastructure on public lands. The effect is already obvious in many national parks.

March 17, 2020 - High Country News

Oil Pump in Los Angeles

Trump Administration Reopens California Public Lands to Oil and Gas Drilling

A decision by the Bureau of Land Management on Oct. 3 may reverse the outcome of a 2013 lawsuit against the Obama administration by two environmental groups that effectively halted drilling in Fresno, Monterey and San Benito counties.

October 11, 2019 - The Hill

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

28.3 Million Acres of Public Land at Risk in Alaska

The Trump administration is working on multiple fronts to liquidate public land in Alaska as the state struggles to balance its budget.

September 16, 2019 - Center for American Progress

Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon-Adjacent Development Revises Plans to Pave Roads Through National Forest

Developers want to build roads through the Kaibab National Forest to serve a controversial development, including a resort and hundreds of homes, planned for a location just South of the Grand Canyon.

September 7, 2019 - Arizona Republic

Wild Horses BLM

New Bureau of Land Management Head Wants to Sell Public Lands

The Trump administration's attack on the protection and conservation of public lands has a new champion.

August 3, 2019 - Associated press via The Salt Lake Tribune

Rocky Mountain National Park

The Private Landowners of the West's Vast Open Spaces

Wealthy buyers are snapping up large parcels of land and imposing new rules. Residents say restricting access is not fair and the actions are affecting communities and their way of life.

July 9, 2019 - The New York Times

Desert Rain

And Now, Some Good News for the Environment

It's not all gloom and doom for the environment.

May 17, 2019 - Outside

Fracking

Department of Interior Plans to Open 1 Million Acres in California to Fracking

The Bakersfield Office of the Bureau of Land Management released an environmental study that is the basis for undoing a 2013 de facto moratorium on fracking on federal lands in California. The Supplemental EIS triggers a 45-day public comment period.

April 28, 2019 - San Francisco Chronicle

Bureau of Land Management

Elizabeth's Warren Plan for Public Lands

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) recently published a detailed plan to protect public lands.

April 19, 2019 - Pacific Standard

Washington, D.C.

New Secretary Confirmed at the U.S. Department of the Interior

The politics of the Department of the Interior under the Trump administration aren't likely to change, but new Secretary David Bernhardt is distinguishable from his predecessor thanks to a long history of oil industry lobbying.

April 12, 2019 - Vox

Utah Public Lands

Op-Ed: Congress Passes Public Lands Bill, Ducks Harder Questions

The Natural Resources Management Act enjoyed bipartisan support in both houses of Congress. But it left out contentious issues like wildfires, greenhouse gas emissions, and protecting wildlife corridors.

March 4, 2019 - High Country News

Ryan Zinke

A Look Back on What Ryan Zinke Is Leaving Behind

Zinke’s tenure at the Interior Department was not lengthy, but the damage he inflicted will be long-lasting.

December 31, 2018 - Vox

Chicago Riverwalk

Opinion: Environmentalism Is Good for Business

A thriving natural environment creates opportunity for private developers and local economies, an economist argues.

November 14, 2018 - New York Times

Solar Panel on a Wind Turbine

Energy Issues at Stake in New Mexico Land Commission Election

Unlike energy issues that will appear in the form of ballot initiatives on Tuesday in three western states, voters in New Mexico will cast their energy vote in their choice for state land commissioner, an arcane position with considerable authority.

November 4, 2018 - NPR

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.