Public lands make up a mix of forest, grassland and desert habitats, concentrated in western states but distributed throughout the country. In addition, public lands provide recreational opportunities, aesthetic benefits, and habitat for wildlife. Managing public lands for these different uses can lead to conflicts. National Park lands are to be managed for the preservation of our natural heritage. National Forest lands focus more on extractive use of the land, within the framework of multiple use policies.
Fire is a natural part of many forest ecosystems.
Fire suppression programs can lead to less frequent but more intense fires. Sustainable harvesting is designed to provide economic benefits while conserving natural systems. Whether sustainble harvesting will preserve biodiversity of forests remains to be seen. Ecosystem restoration is an important conservation tool for habitats that have seen major losses in the past and for which few pristine areas remain. Describe the categories of public lands in the United States.