What are The Private Lands

Purportedly the land where the wealthy and important go to live outside of the city in a semi suburbia, the existence of these lands is a point of debate throughout the novel. Bea believes they exist and is fooled into trusting Ranger Bob, who promises to get her and Agnes out of the Wilderness and take them to the Private Lands. In the end, it is revealed that the Private Lands do not exist and in reality, the Wilderness state is being turned into the Private Lands.