Outdoor industry executives representing 360 businesses and the $887 billion recreation economy submitted a letter to President Trump urging him to honor the legacy of Theodore Roosevelt by protecting the landscapes that compose the American public lands network, which supports jobs and lifestyles in rural and urban communities, thriving economies and a healthier nation.
The letter, signed by a diverse group of business executives in the outdoor gear, apparel, footwear, equipment, retail and service industries, calls for President Trump and his administration to maintain protections for national monuments and America’s public lands and waters. The letter also called for the president to protect the integrity of the 1906 Antiquities Act, a law which has been utilized by Republican and Democratic presidents alike to preserve some of the nation’s most iconic landscapes, waterways, wildlife sanctuaries and places of monumental beauty to ensure they remain uncorrupted and accessible for the enjoyment of future generations.
“Our monuments, public lands and waters are woven into the fabric of the American culture and heritage. The designation of these lands through the Antiquities Act might well be our nation’s best idea, and it is our shared responsibility to protect these iconic places for the next generation to enjoy,” said Amy Roberts, executive director of Outdoor Industry Association. “These special places are part of America’s shared heritage and are hallmarks of who we are as Americans. Any reductions of public lands protections or the tools available to designate public lands would not only have a devastating economic impact on local communities, but is a betrayal of the conservation ethic established over 100 years ago by President Theodore Roosevelt.”
The 360 businesses are diverse in size and location, ranging from Main Street retailers to Fortune 500 companies. Signatories include Adidas Outdoors, Burton, L.L.Bean, Orvis, The North Face, REI and Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, all of which rely on the iconic outdoor places and experiences that national monuments and public lands provide. If protections to public lands or the tools utilized to establish them are restricted or eliminated, these businesses will face significant short- and long-term consequences.
Photo by Florian Schulz courtesy OIA
