Under proposed legislation, parks and nature areas could be sold to private buyers to be logged, mined, or developed for profit.
Some legislators across the United States are pushing to sell public lands to private buyers. Specifically, Republican Senator Mike Lee of Utah is working to sell up to 3 million acres of public land. This land will likely be sold to building developers.
Though not as prevalent an issue in Indiana, pressure from both other states and the federal government could encourage the sale of these lands.
The concept of public lands began in America in 1785, and almost a century later, President Ulysses S. Grant established the first National park, Yellowstone, in 1872. Shortly after, President Theodore Roosevelt established many national parks and forests and created the first U.S. Forest Service.
Public nature preserves and parks serve as spaces that support the preservation of many species, protecting them from harm caused by human interference, such as habitat loss and overhunting. Many of these spaces have provided free or low-cost entry for the public for over a century.
New legislation proposed by both state and federal Republican lawmakers would close these spaces to the public, preventing people from accessing them for recreational use. They also pose a threat to the wildlife that are native to the land, taking away habitat that is already scarcely protected.
It is vital to protect public lands to secure the future of public lands for future use as well as preserve the ecosystem for future generations.
Many wildlife advocacy groups are already pushing to stop the sale of these lands by encouraging lawmakers not to approve the sale of public lands, helping to secure the future of parks and wildlife areas for years to come.
To help prevent lawmakers from approving the sale of these lands, take action by calling or emailing local Indiana senators and representatives. Senator Jim Banks (202)-224-4814; Representative Marlin Stuzman, (202) 225-4436; Congresswoman Erin Houchin, (202) 225-5315.
