Beginning June 24th, America celebrates Great Outdoors America Week, when we take the time to let our leaders know how important protected outdoor spaces are to us. This is especially true in the West where the lands play a significant role in our culture and history, and act as crucial economic drivers. The President and Congress need to do their part to secure outdoor spaces, a task they’ve let fall by the wayside in the past. Great Outdoors America Week gives citizens the opportunity to tell lawmakers why the lands we love need to be put on equal ground with leasing for energy development.
In 2011, outdoor recreation injected $646 billion in consumer spending into America’s economy, making it the third highest source of spending overall. Recreation in western states accounted for $256 billion, or nearly 40 percent of the total. According to the Western Governor’s Association, outdoor recreation spending produced $15.41 billion in Federal tax receipts and $15.38 billion in state and local tax receipts. [iii]
Unfortunately, in recent years protecting these lands, and the economic benefits and jobs they create, has become less of a priority. Leasing for oil and gas drilling has taken precedence, pressing for a more balanced approach to conservation and development. A recent analysis by the Center for American Progress shows that the Obama administration leased more than 6.3 million acres of public land to oil and gas companies for drilling during his first term, more than 2.5 times as much as it permanently protected. Overall, more than 37 million acres of public lands are under lease to oil and gas companies for drilling.
Built on the conservation infrastructure of our nation’s protected public lands and America’s love of these special places, the outdoor economy is one of our nation’s strongest economic segments. Moreover, conserving the future of America’s Great Outdoors addresses larger economic issues, and plays a critical role in the ongoing health of our communities, especially with young people. Let’s recognize Great Outdoors America Week by taking the time to tell Congress and the Obama administration why these lands are important to us, our businesses, and our future.