<P> Wilderness is a special designation for public lands which have been completely undeveloped . The concept of wilderness areas was legislatively defined by the 1964 Wilderness Act . Wilderness areas can be managed by any of the above Federal agencies, and some parks and refuges are almost entirely designated wilderness . A wilderness study area is a tract of land that has wilderness characteristics, and is managed as wilderness, but has not received a wilderness designation from Congress . </P> <P> Typically each parcel is governed by its own set of laws and rules that explain the purpose for which the land was acquired, and how the land may be used . </P> <P> The concept of a formal designation and conservation of public lands dates back to our first National Parks . While designating the parks as public, the conservation was another matter . Theodore Roosevelt and his conservation group, Boone and Crockett Club took matters into their own hands, by creating laws and regulations that protected these national treasures . Roosevelt and the Boone and Crockett Club continued on influencing the creation of scores of public lands including the National Refuge System, USFS and the United States National Forest system . </P> <P> Most state - and federally managed public lands are open for recreational use . Recreation opportunities depend on the managing agency, and run the gamut from the less restrictive, undeveloped wide open spaces of BLM lands to the highly developed and controlled national and state parks . Wildlife refuges and state wildlife management areas, managed primarily to improve habitat, are generally open to wildlife watching, hiking, and hunting, except for closures to protect mating and nesting, or to reduce stress on wintering animals . National forests generally have a mix of maintained trails and roads, wilderness and undeveloped portions, and developed picnic and camping areas . </P>

What percentage of us land is publicly owned