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Land Management

Responsible land use balances agricultural needs, biodiversity, and community well-being. The National Academies explore evidence-based strategies for land restoration, sustainable agriculture, and the integration of ecological and economic priorities. 

What's happening

Guidance for Federal Conservation Programs on PFAS on Agricultural Lands Offered in New Report

News Release

A new report examines the scope of PFAS challenges in agriculture and identifies steps that land conservation agencies at the U.S. Department of Agriculture could take to reduce the impacts of these “forever chemicals” on natural resources and agricultural productivity.

Feb 13, 2026
A wheat harvest in Brownsburg, Indiana (NRCS photo by Brandon O’Connor)

Featured work

Building Impactful Collaborative Platforms in the Land-Grant System

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Recently Completed

Optimizing Research on Experimental Prescribed Fires to Improve Understanding of Wildland Fire and Smoke Behavior

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Recently Completed

Documenting and Communicating the Use of Earth Observations – Issue Paper

Individually-Authored Product

In Progress

Review of the draft U.S. National Assessment by the Nature Record

Consensus/Advisory Activity

In Progress

The Future of Drought in the United States

Consensus/Advisory Activity

In Progress
BASC-WSTB_Drought_banner-corn.jpg | https://nasemoceprodcomm-nationalacademies.cec.ocp.oraclecloud.com/content/published/api/v1.1/assets/CONTEFDFD265C3674841A42FE2C6E5057CC7/native?cb=_cache_daba&format=webp&channelToken=d2dc71410b56f1d61406108f1738d0f4

Exploring Linkages Between Soil Health and Human Health

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

The Chemistry of Urban Wildfires

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Accelerating Decarbonization in the United States: Technology, Policy, and Societal Dimensions

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Needs and Research Requirements for Land-Change Modeling

Consensus/Advisory Activity

Completed

Featured Publications

Units

Center for Health, People, and Places (CHPP)

Oversight Unit

In Progress

Earth Systems and Resources Program Area

Oversight Unit

In Progress
Tide area looks like a Earth, Rock fragments like a continent.

Climate Crossroads

Oversight Unit

In Progress

Committee on Geological and Geotechnical Engineering

Standing Committee

In Progress

Geographical Sciences Committee

Standing Committee

Completed

Roundtable on Environmental Health Sciences, Research, and Medicine

Roundtable/Forum

In Progress

Transportation Research Board (TRB)

Oversight Unit

In Progress
Cargo train transportation - Freight railway. Used for TRB

Food, Nutrition, and Agriculture Program Area

Oversight Unit

In Progress
Fruits and vegetables on wood table
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