ABSTRACT
In range and forest resources, public ownership is not only an issue, but most people would concede that public ownership should play at least some role. The classical argument in favor of public ownership of range resources is based on the criterion of conservation. Range resources yield several products jointly. Besides livestock, the most important are water, protection of the soil against erosion by water and wind, and outdoor recreational opportunities, especially those provided by fish and game. Zoning and land-use regulations by grazing districts of government are tools of public policy to prevent such privately profitable but socially costly plowing up of range lands. Most range managers know of areas where range conservation is practiced on private lands to the same or even to a higher degree than on similar public lands. The argument in favor of public ownership may be strong according to the social-benefit criterion and weak according to the conservation criterion, or vice versa.
