Don’t overlook the importance of private lands

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, a series of talks at the Bighorn National Recreation Area is highlighting the benefits of public lands. It’s a worthy cause. But as Earth Day approaches, another topic deserves as much attention: the benefits that private lands provide to our western heritage.

Private lands play an important but often-overlooked role in sustaining many of the things we cherish most about the West. Whether it’s abundant wildlife, clean water, or vast open spaces, much of it depends on the actions of landowners such as...