After a recent expedition to Chile with The Nature Conservancy, I returned home reflecting on a global truth: public lands are political. Whether it’s South America or South Carolina, land conservation stirs up a lot of passion. For many people it’s complexity can also lead to quite a bit of debate.
For years, I’ve avoided politics on this show. The reality is, when you work in parks and conservation, you’re already part of the political process. Talking about the politics of public lands isn’t about choosing sides. It’s about being informed, strategic, and willing to educate others on why public lands matter.
Phil Gaines helps me to unpack how geography shapes the perception of public land. In the East and South, conservation often competes with rapid development. In the West, massive tracts of public land spark debates about state versus federal control, access, and resource use.
We discussed the long-standing tension between preservation and development, from the beaches of South Carolina to the Bears Ears controversy out West. Phil reminded us of something vital: leadership means thinking beyond the current generation. It means asking not who owns the land, but whether it’s protected and accessible to the public.
Public lands are economic engines, quality of life enhancers, and national treasures. If we can lead conversations about conservation without letting them become partisan battles, maybe we can model how to work together in other areas too.
The stakes are high. Because in conservation, a win can be revisited. But a loss? That’s often forever.
Resources
https://parkleaders.com/about/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/theparkleaders/
Notable Moments
[00:01:03] – Why politics and public land are inseparable
[00:04:37] – The impact of the Antiquities Act on land policy
[00:06:57] – South Carolina’s bipartisan approach to land conservation
[00:10:31] – Western vs. Eastern perceptions of public land ownership
[00:15:11] – Economic and social value of protected lands
[00:21:13] – The difference between temporary wins and permanent losses
[00:26:40] – Why every acre counts, from Yellowstone to your local county park