A new report prepared by the Grand Canyon Institute with support from the Arizona Wildlife Federation, The Nature Conservancy, and the Arizona Trail Association examines the potential fiscal and economic impacts of transferring federal public lands to the state of Arizona.

The analysis examines what it would mean for Arizona to manage millions of acres currently overseen by federal agencies such as the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. It explores state costs for land management functions, such as wildfire response, staffing, maintenance, and public services, and compares those with the federal funding currently dedicated to these activities.

The report indicates that if Arizona assumed responsibility for these lands, the state would face significant new financial obligations and would need to replace substantial federal funding that currently supports wildfire management, infrastructure, and other land stewardship activities. It also examines how such a transfer could affect county revenues and local economies that benefit from federal payments tied to public lands.

Importantly, the analysis considers how these impacts intersect with Arizona’s outdoor recreation and conservation economy, which relies on access to federally managed lands for hiking, hunting, camping, and other outdoor activities that support local jobs and businesses.

This report adds to the ongoing conversation about public land policy by grounding it in a careful look at budget realities and economic trade-offs for Arizona. Read the full report below: