Forest & Land Management

Public Land Covers Over 50% Of America

The U.S. contains over 900 million acres of public land. These areas contain valuable natural resources, crucial ecosystems, and unique recreation activities. Despite numerous benefits, natural areas across the country have few safeguards to prevent destruction and misuse. 

Immense Public Benefit 

Drinking Water

Over 24% of the nation's drinking water comes from federal public land.

Carbon Sequestration

Forests absorb massive amounts of carbon dioxide, offsetting our emissions.

Habitat

Ecosystem stability hinges on many habitats protected on state and federal lands.

Recreation

Public Lands provide numerous opportunities for outdoor exploration and recreation. 

Land Managers Stretched Thin

The U.S. Forest Service relies on less than 600 officers to patrol 193 millions acres of forest. 

Across the U.S., rangers work incredibly hard to monitor and protect massive pieces of public land. Their patrol areas often surpass 400,000 acres, and they cannot be everywhere at once. As a result, natural resource destruction often goes undetected. 

Around 10% of all trees taken from the National Forest System are illegally harvested.

Timber Theft Task Force, U.S. Forest Service

Worldwide Forestry Crime

89 Square Miles

Of Forest Illegally Clear-Cut, Everyday

$51-152 Billion 

Of Timber Stolen Annually

(The World Bank)

(INTERPOL)

Compared to the U.S., most of the world relies on far less specialized and even smaller environmental protection forces. Global forestry crime is widespread. Massive areas are illegally clear-cut each day. Nations are rapidly losing potential revenue streams while ecosystems are destroyed, amounting to a leading cause of climate change. According to the United Nations, deforestation is the largest source of carbon emissions.

A New Era of Forest Protection

For land managers who struggle to effectively monitor vast areas, Outland Analytics provides instant alerts of illegal logging.