Think from KERA The cost of privatizing public land
Mar 26, 2026
Kyle Manley, a postdoc at CU Boulder’s Earth Lab who studies land management and ecosystem services. He explores the history of land-transfer movements and why selling federal lands is shortsighted. He discusses wildfire risks, limits of using remote public land for housing, and methods for putting dollar values on recreation, pollination, water and other ecosystem services.
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How Federal Lands Are Managed For Multiple Uses
- Federal public lands are managed for multiple uses including grazing, logging, mining, and recreation.
- Kyle Manley notes BLM and Forest Service plans aim for sustained yield but historically undervalue ecological and conservation services.
One-Time Land Sales Ignore Ongoing Annual Benefits
- Selling federal land produces a one-time cash infusion but sacrifices recurring annual benefits.
- Manley argues that annual economic, ecological, and recreational returns typically far exceed the short-term proceeds from auctions.
Congress Could Overturn Local Land Management Plans
- The Congressional Review Act is being repurposed to let Congress overrule long-standing public land management plans.
- Manley warns this could replace decades of local scientific and public input with simple majority votes in Congress.