Our Common Ground: A History of America's Public Lands
No Customer Reviews
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 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.
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:030023578X
ISBN13:9780300235784
Release Date:March 2022
Publisher:Yale University Press
Length:736 Pages
Weight:2.65 lbs.
Dimensions:2.0" x 6.5" x 9.4"
Customer Reviews
0 rating
Copyright © 2025 Thriftbooks.com
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information | Cookie Policy | Cookie Preferences | Accessibility Statement
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
ThriftBooks ® and the ThriftBooks ® logo are registered trademarks of Thrift Books Global, LLC
