Making America's Public Lands: The Contested History of Conservation on Federal Lands

by Adam M. Sowards

In the United States, the federal government owns more than a quarter of the nation’s landscape—nearly 640 million acres; or more than a million square miles, which, if consolidated, would make it the tenth largest nation on earth. Primarily managed by four federal agencies—the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Park Service--American public lands have been central to developing the American economy, state, and identity. The history of these lands intersects with critical components of the American past—namely nature, politics, and economics. From the beginning, the concept of “public” has been the subject of controversy, from visions of homesteaders realizing the ideal of the Jeffersonian republic to western ranchers who use the open range to promote a free enterprise system, to wilderness activists who see these lands as wild places, free from human encumbrance. Environmental historian Adam Sowards synthesizes public lands history from the beginning of the republic to recent controversies. Since public lands are located everywhere, including iconic national parks like Yellowstone or the Grand Canyon, Americans at large have a stake in these lands. They are, after all, ours. In a real sense, this book is for those citizens who camp in the national forests, drive through the national parks, or admire distant wilderness landscapes. These readers will gain a greater appreciation for the long and complex history of the range of these places.

Genres: History, Nature, Nonfiction

250 pages, Paperback

Published August 15, 2024

Reviews

[Lyla]

Did I read the last chapter… maybe not, but I read enough of this that I’m counting it 😵

[Cara Lynn]

Read for U.S. Fish & Wildlife’s Wild Reads bookclub

[Laura Pritchett]

Wonderful history -- and I must say, this research presented in such an engaging way. Recommend for ANYone who is interested in conservation / public lands (not just historians)!

[Jacqueline Haskins]

Adam Sowards is a delightful writer! History has never felt so relevant, lively, complex and textured. Best of all, Adam asks the big questions about how we got here and where we are going.

[Janaya]

I love this topic, but the writing is needlessly dense making it SO hard to get through the book.

[N.]

Concise and readable synthetic history of US public lands.

[Jacqueline Haskins]

Adam Sowards is a delightful writer! History has never felt so relevant, lively, complex and textured. Best of all, Adam asks the big questions about how we got here and where we are going.