The Public Land Use Zone (PLUZ) dataset is comprised of all the polygons that represent Public Land Use Zones in Alberta. A Public Land Use Zone is an area of land to which legislative controls are applied to achieve particular land management objectives identified in a guiding land and resource plan. They can be used to protect areas containing sensitive resources such as wildlife and their habitats, vegetation, soils and watersheds as well as to separate or manage conflicting recreational activities. These areas have been designated as Public Land Use Zones, under the authority of Section 178 and 208 of the Public Lands Administration Regulation (PLAR) under the Public Lands Act. Public Land Use Zones were formerly known as Forest Land Use Zones (FLUZ) which were designated under the former Forest Recreation Regulation under the Forests Act. The Public Lands Administration Regulation came into effect on September 12, 2011. At this time, Forest Land Use Zones under the Forest Recreation Regulation were incorporated into the Public Lands Act and Public Lands Administration Regulation. As a result, Forest Land Use Zone became Public Land Use Zone.

The Public Land Recreation Area dataset is comprised of all the polygons that represent Public Land Recreation Areas in Alberta. A Public Land Recreation Area is an area of recreation land designated under the authority of Section 179 of the Public Lands Administration Regulation under the Public Lands Act. Public Land Recreation Area was formerly known as Forest Recreation Area under the Forest Recreation Regulation under the Forests Act. No changes to the Forest Recreation Area data layer were made when it was migrated to become the Public Land Recreation Area dataset.