American Land Rights Association

The American Land Rights Association was founded in 1977 by property owners located within Yosemite National Park and was known as the National Park Inholders Assosiation.

"Its mission was to protect private property landowners from unwanted acquisition by the National Park Service," ALRA's website states. In 1980 it changed its name to National Inholders Association (NIA) to broaden its focus to all private land owners within or adjoining public lands. In 1995, the NIA was renamed the American Land Rights Association (ALRA).

"ALRA is a national clearinghouse and support coalition encouraging family recreation, multiple-use, commodity production, and access to federally-controlled and state lands. Its purpose is to oppose selfish, single-use, restrictive land use designations that damage local economies, schools and roads in rural America," it states on its website.

ALRA was one of the leading groups in the anti-environmental Wise Use Movement that reached its peak in the 1990's opposing public lands initiatives of the Clinton administration. With Republicans taking control in Congress and the White House, ALRA had more friends in Washington DC but has still opposed some Republican initiatives  and nominees.

It sponsors the Land Rights Network, a nationwide mail, phone, fax and e-mail lobby network.

Other SourceWatch resources

 * Wise Use Movement

Contact details
ALRA 30218 N.E. 82nd Ave. PO Box 400 Battle Ground, WA 98604 Tel: 360-687-3087 FAX: 360-687-2973 Web: http://www.landrights.org