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Wed Feb 16 13:57:41 2011 Pacific Time

      Outdoor Groups: America's Great Outdoors Report Shines Light on Conservation, Recreation Opportunities

       WASHINGTON, Feb. 16 (AScribe Newswire) -- A broad coalition of conservation and recreation organizations applauded the Obama administration's strong support of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) in the America's Great Outdoors report that was released today. The report provides recommendations on promoting and supporting innovative community-level efforts to conserve important outdoor spaces, including urban areas and rural landscapes, and to reconnect Americans to the outdoors.

       "The AGO Report recommendations were shaped by hundreds of thousands of Americans who participated in an unprecedented national conversation about the best future for our water, wild land, fish, wildlife, and historic and cultural landmarks," said Steve Moyer, Vice President for Government Affairs, Trout Unlimited. "Hunter and angler conservationists deeply appreciate TT the Report's exemplary focus on the LWCF program - which enjoys bipartisan support across the Nation - and we call on the Administration, Congress, federal land managers and state and local governments to work together to implement the Report's recommendations."

       The America's Great Outdoors (AGO) report spotlights full funding of the LWCF as a critical tool to help achieve these goals. LWCF provides funding to safeguard natural areas, water resources and our cultural heritage, and to provide recreation opportunities to all Americans. Most importantly, the LWCF does not use taxpayer dollars - it is already paid for through a percentage of revenues from offshore oil and gas development; $900 million a year from revenues that typically average over $6 billion annually.

       A key element to the AGO vision is the need to provide a network of places for Americans to get outside and recreate. Since 1965, the LWCF has created a legacy of local parks and playgrounds where kids can play; greenbelts and recreational trails that connect and enhance local communities; state parks that sustain wildlife and provide hiking, hunting, fishing, camping and so much more; and federal public lands that provide a broad range of opportunities for recreationists and sportsmen. LWCF works through community-supported projects that develop through a groundswell of local support. The AGO initiative recognizes this historic contribution made by LWCF and calls for full funding for the program to ensure that these benefits to federal land acquisition, conservation easements and state and local parks and recreation will continue to accrue.

       "Rural communities across the northwest are home to some of the most innovative and collaborative conservation efforts in the country. As a part of the America's Great Outdoors Initiative, the Administration needs to support and invest in bottom-up efforts to meet our conservation and economic development goals," stated Maia Enzer, Policy Program Director for Sustainable Northwest in Portland, Oregon. "As rural communities face dramatic threats from land conversion and changing demographics, full funding for programs that will help retain working rural landscapes, such as the Forest Legacy Act and the Land and Water Conservation Fund are critical for protecting their culture and heritage."

       "The AGO report sends a strong message on the importance of state and local park systems in fulfilling national recreation, health and conservation objectives," said Erik Kulleseid, Director of the Alliance for New York State Parks. "State and local park systems are in dire need of investment and support and we applaud the President for re-asserting federal leadership for the parks that Americans frequent daily."

       Outdoor recreation and tourism are critical parts of our nation's economy, creating jobs and economic opportunity even in times of economic crisis. In 2010, the outdoor recreation industry's retail sales showed a 6.3 percent increase over the previous year. The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) reports that active outdoor recreation contributes $730 billion annually to the U.S. economy and supports nearly 6.5 million jobs across the U.S. When land is developed rather than conserved, the benefits to the outdoor recreation economy are lost forever. In addition, land protected through LWCF has had a tremendous return for local economies through tourism as well as improved water quality, flood control and much more.

       "Research we conducted last fall found that for every $1 of LWCF funds invested in land protection, there is a $4 economic return on the investment," commented Will Rogers, President of The Trust for Public Land (TPL). "Through the many public benefits that derive from open space protection - such as clean water, fire management and flood control and with the pressing need for recreation access at the federal, state and local level, LWCF is a critical program for hundreds of millions of Americans."

       Throughout the AGO process, that began in April and continued into the fall, the public consistently indicated its broad and bipartisan support for the LWCF and for conservation efforts in every region of the country. This sentiment was underscored at the ballot box on November 2, 2010, when 30 of 36 (83 percent) of state and local measures to finance land conservation and parks were approved. The measures represent a $2 billion commitment for conservation and recreation on behalf of voters at the state and local levels. In Oregon, Iowa, Maine and Rhode Island, statewide measures passed with strong voter support, and in Arizona, voters overwhelmingly rejected Prop 301 that would have raided voter-approved open space funds. Notably, these results were in states and districts that supported both Republican and Democratic candidates for governor and Congress.

       The Land and Water Conservation Fund Coalition is an informal partnership working together to support full and dedicated funding for LWCF. The coalition includes hundreds of local, state and national business, recreation, private landowner and conservation organizations across the country.

       CONTACT: Jodi Stemler, 703-915-1386