Outdoor Alliance just released an informative perspective on the BLM’s 21st Century Outdoor Recreation Blueprint. As demand for outdoor recreation opportunities grows, land management agencies will need both the vision and resources to meet these growing needs. Read on for a quick description and feedback that Outdoor Alliance provided for this blueprint…
In late summer, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its Blueprint for 21st Century Outdoor Recreation. This blueprint offers a vision for improving and expanding high-quality outdoor recreation opportunities on the 245 million acres of public lands that the BLM manages.
BLM lands are beloved among outdoor recreationists for their vast resources but also for, as the agency puts it, “the relative freedom people enjoy shaping their own experiences.” In contrast with more regulated recreation destinations, such as many National Parks, BLM lands offer fewer crowds and greater chances for exploration. BLM lands are especially popular for mountain biking, climbing, hunting and fishing, and motorized use.
Since 2015, visits to BLM lands have increased by 35% (source). The outdoor recreation economy is also growing, contributing over $1 trillion to the U.S. economy (source). And yet, there has been no meaningful investment in the BLM that would allow it to keep up with growing visitation and the growing economy.
The Blueprint explores a vision of how to invest in, protect, and enhance sustainable and equitable recreation on the BLM’s 245 million acres of land. The BLM invited feedback on the blueprint, which Outdoor Alliance provided. The Blueprint explores four different pillars of work where the BLM can expand and improve outdoor recreation experiences.
The new Foundation for America’s Public Lands, the BLM’s official charitable partner, also hosted a number of roundtables to gather feedback in response to the Blueprint. They shared some of the key insights from the roundtables, as well as a roadmap for how to move forward, that you can read here.
You can learn more about the blueprint from the BLM right here and our letter to the BLM with feedback on the blueprint here.
Check out more at Outdoor Alliance.
