The federal government owns 28% of all land in the United States, from popular national parks to scarcely visited deserts and petroleum reserves. These federal public lands preserve the nation’s natural and cultural history and provide vital natural resources for the economy. It is no wonder that public land politics are so fractious. In this course, we’ll explore the history of federal public lands to understand their present configuration, we’ll trace changing ideas of appropriate use, and we’ll highlight some of the most significant challenges for these lands today. And if you ask, Jamie is happy to help you plan your next trip to national forests, national parks, national wildlife refuges, and public lands management by the Bureau of Land Management. 

Subject: ecology, history 

James R. (Jamie) Skillen is Professor of Environmental Studies and director of the Calvin Ecosystem Preserve and Native Gardens and the Flat Iron Lake Preserve. He has written several books on federal public lands and teaches regular field courses on federal land management in Alaska, Arizona, California, Nevada, and Oregon. In addition to working on federal public lands, he is an avid backpacker who has covered thousands of miles in the West.