Our Common Ground: A History of America's Public Lands

Author/Contributor(s):	Leshy, John D
Publisher:	Yale University Press
Date:	03/01/2022
Binding:	Hardcover
Condition:	NEW

The little-known story of how the U.S. government came to hold nearly one-third of the nation's land and manage it primarily for recreation, education and conservation. A much-needed chronicle of how the American people decided-wisely and democratically-that nearly a third of the nation's land
surface should remain in our collective ownership and be managed for our common good. Dayton Duncan, author of The National Parks: America's Best Idea America's public lands include more than 600 million acres of forests, plains, mountains, wetlands, deserts, and shorelines. In this book, John
Leshy, a leading expert in public lands policy, discusses the key political decisions that led to this, beginning at the very founding of the nation. He traces the emergence of a bipartisan political consensus in favor of the national government holding these vast land areas primarily for
recreation, education, and conservation of biodiversity and cultural resources. That consensus remains strong and continues to shape American identity. Such a success story of the political system is a bright spot in an era of cynicism about government. This book is essential reading for anyone who
cares about public lands, and it is particularly timely as the world grapples with the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.