Protecting America’s Outdoors

In the last few years, we have seen a sea change in the outdoors. Demand for outdoor recreation is at a new high, with more than half of Americans participating in outdoor recreation in 2022. Increased visitation has put pressure on public lands and waters, especially after years of underfunding and short-staffing. What’s more, climate change continues to threaten communities, costing the U.S. more than $165 billion in 2022, 13% more than the prior year. Wildfires, high temperatures, low water, and other climate issues also deeply affect the outdoors and our access to them. Many neighborhoods in America lack good access to nature, which is an equity and public health issue as well as an amplifier for the effects of climate change.

The conventional approaches to conservation are no longer enough, nor do they reflect our evolving shared values, economy, and way of life. The outdoor community has been a key player in advocating for—and successfully creating—some of the biggest conservation wins of the last ten years. This approach starts where people are, drawing on their love for outdoor places and public lands, and uses that passion to drive engagement and political change. These investments in conservation aren’t just good for people and communities, they are part of a growing sector of the economy. Outdoor recreation sustains more than 5 million jobs, and generates $1.1 trillion in GDP across the U.S.

Protecting and restoring land and waters, from remote backcountry landscapes to local parks to working lands, will address climate change, expand access to the outdoors, and build strong and healthy communities.