This Sovereign Land

the long version

"In This Sovereign Land, Daniel Kemmis offers a radical new proposal for keeping public lands public but shifting their jurisdiction from nation to region. Kemmis, a leading western Democrat and committed environmentalist, argues against those who wish to privatize the public lands. He offers a regional approach that takes into account natural topographical and ecological features, directed by local residents with a vested interest in ensuring the sustainability of their communities. In effect, Kemmis carries John Wesley Powell's recommendations to their logical conclusion." "Throughout, Kemmis argues that the West no longer needs to be protected against itself by a paternalistic system and makes a compelling case that the time has come for the region to claim sovereignty over its own landscape. This Sovereign Land provides a provocative opening to a discussion about how democracy and ecological sustainability can go hand in hand."--BOOK JACKET.