Put the ‘public’ back in public lands

Put the ‘public’ back in public lands

This commentary is by Zack Porter, who has worked in public land management and advocacy for more than two decades. He co-founded Standing Trees in 2021. Did you know that you are a co-owner of more than 370,000 acres of Vermont? Vermont’s state forests, parks and wildlife management areas, which total 6% of the state, are public lands and should be national examples of democracy in action. Sadly, in 2026, they aren’t living up to this ideal. Th…