Private Rights Public Lands

This text focuses on governmental natural resource and land use policy in the areas of agriculture, energy, forestry, mining, and water. The authors argue that this policy has failed and outlines the need for new ways to encourage the privatization of policy reforms. The contents of the book include the philosophical and constitutional case, the bureaucracy verses the land, the federal estate, and recommendations for policy reform.

One of the leading experts on public lands and land rights issues, Robert H. Nelson here brings together a collection of his finest essays. Nelson demonstrates that the 'progressive' goal of achieving scientific management of public lands has not been realized; instead, public land management has been dominated by interest group politics and ideology.

When it comes to urban planning, to what extent and under what conditions should the community’s interest prevail over the rights of private property owners? Public Interest, Private Property addresses this question at a time when pollution, urban sprawl, and condo booms are forcing municipal governments to adopt prescriptive laws and regulations. Case studies focus on spheres in which public values and private property rights collide – expropriation law, natural resources regulation, green development, and water provision – laying the groundwork for more active debates on the issues currently shaping our cities.

"A project of the Free Enterprise Legal Defense Fund." Includes bibliographical references (p. 247-258) and index.