Outdoor Industry Leaders Call on Congress to Make Investing in Public Lands and Protecting Natural Resources a Priority in Climate Legislation

WASHINGTON - Seventy-five outdoor businesses, the Outdoor Industry
Association, Outdoor Alliance and the National Parks Conservation
Association have signed on to a letter calling on Congress to protect
public lands from climate change impacts. The letter, which will be
delivered to Congressional offices this week, is below. Healthy lands
and waters help generate $730 billion in economic activity in the
United States, which generates $88 billion in state and federal tax
revenue.    

Statement by Amy Kleiner-Roberts, Vice-president of Governmental Affairs, Outdoor Industry Association:

"The active outdoor recreation industry is among the first to
experience the impacts of climate change on our public lands. From
declining snowpacks to droughts that cause forests to die, climate
change can degrade and limit opportunities for outdoor recreation.

"We are asking Congress to pass climate legislation that includes
funding for the restoration and adaptation of public lands. We ask that
they be protected for their own sake, and for the people who hope to
continue to enjoy clean air, scenic landscapes and outdoor recreation."

  Statement by Mark Wenzler, Director Clean Air and Climate Programs, National Parks Conservation Association:

"Restoration work on federal lands helps sustain local economies and
American jobs, in addition to maintaining healthy ecosystems. Taking
action now to invest in work that helps our lands and wildlife adapt to
the earth's changing climate will ensure that public lands, including
our national parks, will continue to support 6.5 million jobs and
preserve our country's best scenery and wildlife for our children and
grandchildren to enjoy."

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Members of the outdoor recreation industry, along with the National
Parks Conservation Association and the Outdoor Alliance, are seriously
concerned about the immediate and profound threats climate change poses
to America's natural areas and the significant outdoor pursuits and
economic activities supported by these places.

The people and businesses of the outdoor community are some of the
first to experience the impacts of climate change on our public lands.
Declining snowpack shortens ski and snowshoe seasons, makes alpine
climbing more dangerous and can eliminate ice climbing. Less snowpack
means less water in our creeks, rivers and lakes for paddling. Higher
temperatures and prolonged droughts impact the forests, mountains,
deserts, and rivers where we recreate. Climate change can degrade,
limit, and in some cases eliminate opportunities for outdoor
experiences.

As climate legislation moves forward, we ask you prioritize
protecting our national and state parks, forests, wild and scenic
rivers, national conservation areas, wildlife refuges, wilderness
areas, and national recreation areas.  Healthy lands and waters as well
as the wildlife and habitat that they support are the foundation of the
$730 billion in economic activity generated by active outdoor
recreation, which supports 6.5 million jobs -- 1 in 20 across the U.S.
-- and $88 billion in state and federal tax revenue.

Though our lands, waters, plant and animals certainly deserve
protection for their own sake, they should also be protected for the
wealth of ecosystem services they provide for society at large: Clean
air and water, biodiversity, carbon storage, wildlife habitat, historic
landscapes and, particularly, outdoor recreation.

Our national parks are the envy of the world and are part of the
lifeblood of the people and businesses that make up the outdoor
community.  Climate-related changes will increasingly degrade our
national parks and harm the communities and businesses that depend on
healthy natural resources for their continued economic prosperity. 
Investments that help restore America's wildlife and natural resources,
making them more resilient to climate change, will improve the
ecological health of our national parks and other public lands while
enhancing the active recreation economy and the national economy at
large.

For the sake of our national parks, forests, rivers, other natural
areas and wild places, as well as the thriving economic activity that
these places support, please make sure that protecting and enhancing
America's natural areas is a priority in climate legislation. Thank you
for your consideration.

Best Regards,