FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2018

Public Lands Day: Colorado leads on conservation

Faced with a leadership vacuum in Washington, Colorado sets the bar on outdoor recreation

DENVER—This Saturday marks the second annual Colorado Public Lands Day. At a time when Westerners are feeling less than confident about the U.S. government’s commitment to protecting the West’s outdoor way of life, Colorado has stepped up to fill the leadership void.

To celebrate the state’s achievements, the Center for Western Priorities has released the following statement from Policy and Communications Manager Lucy Livesay:

“Each year Colorado’s national public lands see over 40 million visits—as a lifelong Coloradan I am lucky to count myself among the visitors. Colorado Public Lands Day is an opportunity to celebrate those lands and renew our commitment to their future.

“At a moment when it is increasingly clear that the Trump administration won’t prioritize the protection of our national public lands, Colorado’s leadership and commitment to preserving our outdoor way of life is more critical than ever.”

According to a Center for Western Priorities report, 290 Million Reasons to Invest in America’s Public Lands, Colorado’s national public lands see over 40 million visits each year, surpassed only by California—and with over 25 million visits each year, the state’s national forests are second to none.

Colorado policymakers have taken action to preserve and maintain outdoor opportunities. This fall, Colorado ranked first on the Center for Western Priorities’ Western States Conservation Scorecard, outpacing seven other Western states in a comparison of state policies related to responsible energy development, public lands access, and outdoor recreation.