Ways to Celebrate National Public Lands Day from Home

"Eight books and films that will transport you to some of America’s most iconic landscapes" - Explore America's public lands through captivating stories and breathtaking visuals.
Mountains in Glacier National Park serve as the backdrop for an alpine meadow

Eight Books and Films That Will Transport You to America’s Most Iconic Landscapes

Mountains in Glacier National Park serve as the backdrop for an alpine meadow

Glacier National Park. | Photo by Pascal Walschots

More than 640 million acres of land in the United States belong to the American public, including over 400 national parks, 560 national wildlife refuges, and 154 national forests. These lands are integral to the country’s landscape, identity, and culture, serving as places of recreation, wildlife protection, and climate change mitigation.

National Public Lands Day, started in 1994 and now led by the National Environmental Education Foundation, celebrates these landscapes with outdoor events and volunteer opportunities. This year, it falls on September 28, offering a chance to learn more about our shared lands, their histories, and futures.

While these lands are celebrated, they also have complex pasts and face threats from development and climate change. The following books and documentaries explore the stories of Indigenous peoples, battles over public lands, and the impacts of climate change. They also highlight the beauty and wonder of these spaces.

Saving Yellowstone: Exploration and Preservation in Reconstruction America by Megan Kate Nelson

Simon and Schuster, 2022

A grizzly standing in a Yellowstone meadow with mountains in the background

A grizzly bear in Yellowstone National Park. | Photo Krista Taylor

Saving Yellowstone by historian Megan Kate Nelson explores the creation of America’s first national park during the Reconstruction era, focusing on figures like Lakota leader Sitting Bull, financier Jay Cooke, and explorer Ferdinand Hayden.

Understory: A Journey Through the Tongass

Mist rises from the forest in the Tongass National Forest

Tongass National Forest. | Photo by Carlos Rojas

The Tongass National Forest, the world’s largest temperate rainforest, faced logging threats in 2020. In response, local fisher Elsa Sebastian, biologist Natalie Dawson, and illustrator Mara Menahan documented the forest’s landscape and communities in the documentary Understory.

Brave the Wild River: The Untold Story of Two Women Who Mapped the Botany of the Grand Canyon by Melissa L. Sevigny

W.W. Norton, 2023

Aerial view of Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Canyon National Park. | Photo by Alan Majchrowicz

Brave the Wild River tells the story of botanists Elzada Clover and Lois Jotter, who in 1938 sailed down the Colorado River to catalog its flora, facing the challenges of female scientists in the 1930s.

The Song of Everything: A Poet’s Exploration of South Carolina’s State Parks by Glenis Redmond

Good Printed Things, 2024

A valley in Caesars Head State Park South Carolina

Caesars Head State Park, Blue Ridge Escarpment, Table Rock. | Photo by John Coletti

Poet Glenis Redmond visited 20 of South Carolina’s state parks with her grandson after receiving a cancer diagnosis, capturing the experience in her collection of poems, The Song of Everything.

This Land

Night sky in the Cascades with forest in the foreground

Hyatt Lake Recreation Area, Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument, Oregon. | Photo by Kyle Sullivan/BLM

In the This Land documentary, athlete Faith E. Briggs runs through national monuments, raising awareness about public lands and examining access issues. Briggs navigates her identity as a Black conservationist, aiming to show that everyone is welcome outdoors.

The Melting World: A Journey Across America’s Vanishing Glaciers by Christopher White

St. Martin’s Press (MacMillan), 2013

Mountains in Glacier National Park serve as the backdrop for an alpine meadow

Glacier National Park. | Photo by Pascal Walschots

Christopher White’s The Melting World documents the rapid melting of Montana’s glaciers, capturing the impact of climate change on Glacier National Park through the work of climate scientist Dan Fagre.

The Unlikely Thru-Hiker: An Appalachian Trail Journey by Derick Lugo

Appalachian Mountain Club, 2019

Autumn sunrise in Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park. | Photo by John Baggaley

Derick Lugo’s memoir, The Unlikely Thru-Hiker, recounts his journey on the Appalachian Trail, addressing race and the outdoors while sharing his experiences and lessons learned.

Gladesmen: The Last of the Sawgrass Cowboys

Everglades National Park at Sunset

Everglades National Park. | Photo by James Keith

The Gladesmen documentary explores the tension between conservation efforts and airboating communities in the Florida Everglades, highlighting the complexities of protecting fragile ecosystems while respecting local traditions.

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Federal Funding Targets Reduction of Carbon Emissions and Air Pollution at US Ports


The U.S. government has announced a new initiative to tackle carbon emissions and air pollution at the nation’s ports. This effort comes with the allocation of federal funds aimed at modernizing port infrastructure and promoting sustainable practices. The goal is to significantly reduce the environmental impact of port operations, a critical step in addressing climate change.



Significant Investments in Green Technologies


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Government and Industry Collaboration


The program calls for collaboration between federal agencies and industry stakeholders. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides guidelines for reducing emissions, offering ports technical assistance to implement sustainable practices. This partnership is crucial for developing innovative solutions tailored to specific port needs.



Impact on Local Communities


Local communities, often disproportionately affected by air pollution from ports, are expected to benefit from cleaner air and improved health outcomes. The initiative emphasizes the importance of involving community organizations to ensure that the changes address local concerns.



Monitoring and Accountability


To ensure accountability, the program includes measures for monitoring emissions reductions and evaluating the effectiveness of implemented technologies. This data-driven approach facilitates continuous improvement and demonstrates the benefits of federal investments in environmental sustainability.



Long-Term Environmental Goals


This federal funding aligns with broader environmental goals, including achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The U.S. government continues to prioritize policy changes that support these objectives and drive progress within the transportation and logistics sectors.