Public Lands Interpretive Association

Founded in 1981, the Public Lands Interpretive Association (PLIA) has served to educate and inspire the public about the natural and cultural heritage resources on America’s public lands. As a nonprofit, we work closely with the Bureau of Land Management and US Forest Service to provide interpretive and educational assistance in the Southwest. With locations in New Mexico and Arizona, our bookstores and visitor centers on public lands provide essential knowledge through maps and books for sale, unique souvenirs to enhance the visitor experience, and staff members and volunteers who can answer specific visitor questions. Our New Mexico Public Lands Information Center (NMPLIC), which operates within the Bureau of Land Management state office in Santa Fe, provides a ”one-stop shop” for information about public lands and outdoor recreation in New Mexico. PLIA’s education and outreach programs also seek to engage people with public lands. Throughout the year, PLIA staff provide in-class presentations and field trips for middle-schoolers, create events to celebrate lesser-known public lands, and give presentations about map resources and contacts for land management agencies. For example, our award-winning Caver Quest Academy program developed an in-class program (and a video game!) for schools in southern New Mexico to teach students about cave science and etiquette, while preparing them for a once-in-a-lifetime expedition into Fort Stanton-Snowy River Cave! For more than forty years, PLIA has developed high-quality publications for sale and for free distribution through the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service. These include maps and guidebooks, trail and pocket guides, and interpretive signage and displays. Finally, we also provide interpretive and personnel support to three campgrounds in Arizona’s Kaibab National Forest.