Citing the need for balance in federal land management and the role public and wild lands play in supporting jobs across the American economy, The Conservation Alliance (Alliance), Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) and companies they represent sent a letter to members of the House Natural Resources Committee supporting the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) new wild lands policy.
“Proper management of wilderness-quality lands and congressionally-designated Wilderness signals our national commitment to conservation of our public lands, clean waters, healthy wildlife, and cultural and historical landscapes,” the industry said in backing the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Secretarial Order 3310.
The order, unveiled by Salazar in late December in front of REI's Denver store, has been condemned by U.S. Rep. Doc Hastings, (R-WA) chairman of the House Natural Resources Commitee. A major advocate of boosting domestic energy production, has said the policy ursurps Congress's authority to designate wild places and will block domestic energy production. Mike Simpson, (R-ID) and chair of the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, has threatened to strip funding BLM needs to implement the policy.
The Alliance, OIA and 19 leading outdoor companies, however, have countered that the policy merely restores balance to the process of determining how public land should be managed.
“The outdoor industry depends on a full spectrum of public lands and waters to provide places for our customers to use the products we make and sell,” stated the letter signed by the 21 organizations. “Outdoor recreation contributes $730 billion annually to the U.S. economy, and supports nearly 6.5 million jobs across our country. Ensuring that some of our BLM lands are preserved for recreation and habitat is an investment in our economic future and the quality of life in communities.”
“Secretary Salazar's order ensures Western communities have the opportunity to choose a balanced economic approach,” said Frank Hugelmeyer, President of OIA. “Active outdoor recreation generates $289 billion in annual retail sales and supports sustainable, domestic jobs in every American community rural and urban, “Jobs vs. conservation is yesterday’s logic. The recreation economy balances boom and bust cycles of extractive industries.”
“Conservation is an investment in the future of the outdoor industry,” said John Sterling, executive director of The Conservation Alliance. “Secretary Salazar’s order requires that the BLM preserve the wilderness characteristics on some of its lands; the same lands where outdoor customers recreate using the products our members make and sell.”
