Public Lands Interpretive Association

Public Lands Interpretive Association (PLIA) is a cooperating (or interpretive) association whose mission is to “inspire and educate the public about the natural and cultural heritage resources of America’s public lands.”

PLIA provides those wanting to visit public lands with information and educational materials such as up-to-date fire news and alerts, and an online map center with Bureau of Land Management,[1] Forest Service, and other maps helpful to users of public lands.[2]

PLIA is one of more than sixty 501c(3) not-for-profit interpretive associations which support public land agencies throughout the United States. The national umbrella organization of interpretive associations is the Association of Partners for Public Lands.

History

PLIA (formerly Southwest Natural and Cultural Heritage Association) was formed in 1981, and is affiliated with the US Fish & Wildlife Service, USDA Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management.[3]

Revenues are derived from PLIA sales outlets, a campground concession, publishing and product development, online sales, and by providing customer service for the Valles Caldera National Preserve. Net revenues support PLIA’s interpretive and educational efforts.

Sales Outlets and Areas Managed by PLIA

Arizona

USDA Forest Service:

  • Clifton Ranger District Office, Clifton
  • Sabino Canyon Visitor Center, Tucson
  • Palisades Visitor Center, Mt. Lemmon
  • Sierra Vista Ranger District Office, Hereford
  • Williams Visitor Center, Williams

New Mexico

USDA Forest Service:

  • Glenwood Ranger District Office, Glenwood
  • Sacramento Ranger District Office, Cloud Croft
  • Lincoln NF Supervisors Office, Alamogordo

Bureau of Land Management:

  • El Malpais Visitor Station, Grants
  • Art Zimmerman Visitors Center
  • Valley of Fires National Recreation Area Visitor Center

Oklahoma

US Fish and Wildlife Service

  • Witchita Mountain Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center

Campgrounds

Since 1991, PLIA has operated four campgrounds, doing business as Southwest Recreation, under a special use permit on the Williams Ranger District on the Kaibab National Forest near Williams, Arizona.

Campground locations:

Valles Caldera National Preserve

In 2004, PLIA began providing customer and concierge services for the Valles Caldera National Preserve. These services include reservations for recreational activities, general information about the history and natural history of the preserve, and assisting customers with bookings and inquiries.

American Frontiers: A Public Lands Journey

In 2002 the PLIA mapped out a Canada-to-Mexico trek exclusively on public lands called American Frontiers: A Public Lands Journey.[4] This was the first trek through the United States done entirely on public land.

Publications

Publications
Date Publication
2010 Six New Mexico Recreational Maps
2009 Ducks at a Distance, 12th edition
2004, 2008 Trail Guide to Lincoln National Forest, 2nd Revised Edition
2001 Out and About in a Day: Outdoor Fun on Northern Utah’s Public Lands
1999 Trail Guide to Lincoln National Forest, Wild and Scenic Rio Chama
1998 Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge
1997 Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge, Delores River Guide
1995 Trail Guide to Pecos Wilderness
1994 Wild and Scenic Rio Grande, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Visitor Guide to Sandia Mountains
1992 Visitor Guide to Coconino National Forest
1991 Visitor Guide to Mogollon Rim
1990 Visitor Guide to Kaibab Forest (North), Visitor Guide to Kaibab NF (South)

References

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