What are public lands?
Public lands are areas set aside by Alaskans and the American people for a variety of purposes. the public entrusts state and federal agencies to regulate and protect these lands.  Some public lands are designated as parks, forests, or refuges; others as wild rivers, historical areas, or critical habitat.

The most important piece of history for Alaska's public lands is the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, or ANILCA.  To learn more about ANILCA, go to http://alaskacenters.gov/history-public-lands.cfm to visit our History and Culture section on the subject.

Why are public lands important?
Public lands in Alaska are home to amazing animals and entire ecosystems.  They protect unique cultural and historical treasures.  Alaska natives and rural residents practice subsistence and traditional lifestyles in these places.  Many public lands provide recreational opportunities unsurpassed anywhere else in the world.

What can I do on public lands?
You can hike, fish, camp, boat, ski, watch wildlife, and experience other cultures. In certain areas, you can also hunt, pan for gold, gather firewood, climb, and snowmobile. The possibilities are endless!

Why should I care about public lands, anyway?
Alaska's public lands provide a backdrop for expanding our vision of ourselves and the world. They are windows to the past and investments for the future.

Alaska's Public Lands

• Over 80% of Alaska's land is in public ownership.  That's over 300 million acres, an area twice the size of Texas!
• More than half of the nation's park lands are found in Alaska.
• Alaska boasts the largest state park in the Unite States - Wood-Tikchik.
• The nation's two largest national forests reside in Alaska.
• Alaska is home to over 88% of the nation's wildlife refuges.
• Much of Alaska is virtually untouched and unaltered by man.

The Committee Believes an ANILCA report