OPL INSIGHT: Protected Land By State in the USA

Currently, only 12% of the land in the United States is considered protected land (roughly 432,000 square miles). Most of the land in the US is privately owned and can be used in a variety of ways without regard for the impact on natural habitats. Protected areas receive widely different levels of protection. Protected areas can be managed as wilderness while others allow commercial exploitation operations.  The Biden administration has an initiative to conserve 30 percent of the nation’s land and water by 2030.  The plan, known as “30 by 30,” will define what constitutes “conserved” land, and make it distinct from “protected” land.  To learn more about protected land in your state, we invite you to explore our interactive map below.