Public Lands
Assessing Biden's '30 by 30' Conservation Plan
The president's ambitious commitment to protect 30% of U.S. land and water by 2030 might be too broad in attempting to satisfy all land users.
Parks Overwhelmed by Record Numbers of Visitors
Already understaffed and underfunded, the agencies that manage state and national parks are struggling to keep up with the spike in demand for outdoor recreation over the past year.
Opinion: We're Loving Our National Parks to Death
A reservation system could help the struggling national parks system manage crowds and protect our public lands from overuse, according to this article.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
And Now, Some Good News for the Environment
It's not all gloom and doom for the environment.
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.
Elizabeth's Warren Plan for Public Lands
Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) recently published a detailed plan to protect public lands.
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.
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.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Thousand Oaks
City of Wisconsin Rapids
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
