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AS IT IS 2016-02-29 Federal Government Owns Almost Half of Western US

时间:2016-02-29 16:46:42

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AS IT IS 2016-02-29 Federal Government Owns Almost Half of Western US

The United States government owns nearly a third of the nation’s land, including nearly half of Western states.

In the rest of the country, the federal government owns just 4 percent of the land. For most Americans, federally-owned -- or public -- land is not a major issue.

But for people who live in the West, federal or public land ownership can be an issue.

The federal government owns almost 47 percent in the Western states of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and Utah. In Nevada, the U.S. government owns 85 percent of the land.

Farmers and ranchers who depend on land for their livelihood1 have clashed with government officials about how to use the land.

Having land helped to create a strong federal government. But by the mid-1800s, the government was selling land in the West to encourage people to move there.

The Congressional Research Service is an agency that gives information to the U.S. Congress. It says the federal government gave away or sold about 522 million hectares of federal land between 1781 and 2013.

Few people live on or near federal land in the West. Much of the land is national forests, places for wildlife to live without being hunted, parks used to protect and grow plants and animals, and recreation areas.

Much of the land is used for fishing, grazing, hunting and logging.

The federal government still buys land. But since 1990, federal or public lands have decreased by more than 3 percent, or 9.5 million hectares.

Some state lawmakers in the West want the federal government to release more land. They have written bills, or legislation, that call on their state to take control of federal lands.

But fishermen and hunters who use the lands worry that if the state takes control, the land will be sold to private owners. They may then be unable to use the land.

Many people have different goals and plans for the land. It will continue to be an issue for citizens, industry and politicians.

Words in This Story

encourage – v. to make (someone) more likely to do something

park – n. a large area of public land kept in its natural state to protect plants and animals

recreation – n. something people do to relax or have fun; activities done for enjoyment2

graze – v. to eat grass or other plants that are growing in a field or pasture

log – v. to cut down trees in an area for wood


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1 livelihood sppzWF     
n.生计,谋生之道
参考例句:
  • Appropriate arrangements will be made for their work and livelihood.他们的工作和生活会得到妥善安排。
  • My father gained a bare livelihood of family by his own hands.父亲靠自己的双手勉强维持家计。
2 enjoyment opaxV     
n.乐趣;享有;享用
参考例句:
  • Your company adds to the enjoyment of our visit. 有您的陪同,我们这次访问更加愉快了。
  • After each joke the old man cackled his enjoyment.每逢讲完一个笑话,这老人就呵呵笑着表示他的高兴。

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