John Leshy, Author
Distinguished Professor of Law
University of California, Hastings College of Law
The little-known story of how the U.S. government came to hold nearly one-third of the nation鈥檚 land and manage it primarily for recreation, education and conservation.
America鈥檚 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.
Panel Moderator
Professor Mark Squillace, University of Colorado Raphael J. Moses Professor of Law
Panelists
Eric Dude, U.S. Department of the Interior, Attorney/Advisory (2019 Colorado Law Wyss Scholar)
Alison Flint, The Wilderness Society, Senior Legal Director
Maria Handley, The Wilderness Society, Senior Director of Strategic Partnerships & Organizing
Professor Patty Limerick, University of Colorado Center of the American West
Johnsie Wilkinson, Colorado Law rising 3L (2021 Colorado Law Wyss Scholar)
Presented by the Colorado Law Wyss Scholar is U.S. Lands Conservation, the Colorado Environmental Law Journal, and the Getches-Wilkinson Center.