Public Land Sales Threaten Conservation Efforts Public land sales have been a contentious issue in the United States for decades.
The federal government has managed public lands since the early 19th century, when it acquired large tracts of land from Native American tribes and settlers.
Today, approximately 640 million acres – roughly a quarter of the country's total land area – are held by various federal agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the U. S.