All Research:
Public Lands and Outdoor Recreation
An Analysis: Wildfire Management
In the wake of the 2012 Colorado fires, PERC President Terry Anderson and former PERC fellow Sarah Anderson take a look at the motivating forces behind Forest Service fuel management decisions.
Save Rivers, Destroy Trees
PERC Enviropreneur Institute Alum James Workman discusses the water-wildfire nexus and why we should save rivers and destroy trees.
Unnatural forests are depleting water supplies
By Helen M. Poulos and James G. Workman Ronald Reagan once justified logging with “a tree is a tree; how many more do you need to look at?” Besides, he warned, “trees cause more pollution than automobiles.” We cringed at his biases. Yet due to forces none foresaw, Reagan’s gaffes may now ring true. Today,Continue reading “Unnatural forests are depleting water supplies”
To the U.S. Forest Service: Sustaining everything sustains nothing
New Forest Service policy calls for more sustainability even for communities and recreation. Trying to make everything sustainable simply makes no sense.
The Secret Life of Trees: How Pens Are Preserving Old-Growth Forests
Pens from old-growth forests preserve the forest as well as its history.
Vermont schools the nation in woody biomass heating
Discussions of renewable energy typically focus on technologies such as solar panels, wind power, and geothermal. In one state, however, a different conversation is taking shape—one that is focusing on refining an age-old source of renewable energy: wood.
Forest fires thrive on central management
One of our nations greatest resources, its large western forests, is given over to the care of government. Polluted streams, destroyed homes, and wasted assets are the result, even though the responsibility was clearly in our realm. The solution is to allow the resource to be privately owned, not collectively
Funding Parks: Political versus Private Choices
State parks often have their budgets cut when revenues are tight. Some parks are having success by hiring private companies to run the parks. They are efficient, good stewards of the resource, and customer-friendly.
DeChristopher case begs question: What if enviros were allowed to bid on oil leases?
Why are ranchers and mineral companies allowed to bid on federal land leases, but the public cannot? If environmentalists could lease the land they want to conserve, taxpayers might see a higher return and also avoid some bitter disputes.