Natural Public Lands: Resource Guide for Federal and State Land Managers

Research 

Public lands across the U.S. are both rich and varied, yet they all face the challenge of graffiti. 


While some tags can be small, they all have a long-term ecological and cultural impact. This is why RAY Outdoors, a Utah-based nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the beauty and integrity of public lands created this helpful resource for those who are responsible for graffiti removal as part of their stewardship duties. It draws from extensive analysis of common graffiti materials encountered on natural surfaces in U.S. public lands, such as rocks, boulders, and cave walls in areas like national parks and forests. By equipping you with identification tools, removal techniques, and chemical explanations, this guide empowers you to address graffiti effectively.

Research By:
RAY Outdoors (A Utah Public Charity)

Scope: 

This guide focuses on applied graffiti materials (e.g., paints, inks, and markers) commonly used on natural public lands, excluding physical methods like etching, scratching, grinding, or stickers. These applied types represent the majority of vandalism incidents in remote outdoor settings, where portability and quick application are key


View Research Paper (PDF)

Partnering for Safe, Effective Graffiti Removal in Natural Environments
After evaluating a range of products and approaches, RAY Outdoors selected World's Best Graffiti Removers as its trusted partner for graffiti removal chemistry on natural public lands.

  • Biodegradable and designed to meet modern environmental standards:

  • Non-phosphate and free from chlorinated hydrocarbons and xylene

  • VOC compliant and suitable for use with volunteers and field crews

  • Field proven across 1,000+ cities in 17 countries and in partnership with more than 20,000 volunteers in removing 15 million square feet of graffiti annually.

For more detail on the analysis of various graffiti markers, natural surfaces and recommended removal techniques, please review the technical paper here. 
Let’s shine the spotlight on exemplary stewardship groups

Images courtesy of Natural Restorations.

Natural Restorations, an Arizona-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2015 by husband & wife team, Justin & Nicole Corey. Their mission is to remove trash & graffiti from outdoor recreation & wilderness areas, revitalize natural spaces through replanting projects and enrich the lives of military veterans and other community members:

Images courtesy of Trash No Land.

Trash No Land, a Washington-based 501(c)3 nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to making a positive difference in recreational target shooting, toward the critical goal of protecting and preserving our public land.

Images courtesy of Bay Area Climbers Coalition.

The Bay Area Climbers Coalition, a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in California focused on preserving access to our local outdoor areas by actively fostering positive relationships with land managers, hosting stewardship events, and providing educational programming for the climbing community.

Images courtesy of Pat's Woodworks.

Pat’s Woodworks in California believes everyone deserves to experience the untouched beauty of the Angeles National Forest. Pat volunteers his time removing graffiti to keep the trails and outdoor spaces clean for the community.


Visit the Demo Gallery for Natural Environments to see more successful clean up projects.