America's National Monuments are in Jeopardy

Yesterday President Trump signed an executive order directing Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to review all national monument designations from the past 21 years that are larger than 100,000 acres to determine whether their boundaries are consistent with the intent of the Antiquities Act. Depending on the outcome of this review, monuments may be reduced in size, effectively opening the land to development and resource extraction such as mining. You can read more about what this executive order requests and what implications it could have on 24 national monuments.

Like you, I am inspired by outdoor recreation. I am an active outdoor enthusiast, employed in the outdoor industry and simply a lover a trees. I'm ashamed to admit that I have yet to take a personal stand to support public lands. Today is the day that changes, and I hope you'll join me.

This is not the first time the current administration has pushed its anti-public land and anti-environmental agenda, nor will it be the last. It is time for all of us to do our part and make our voices heard. Did you know outdoor recreation is an economic powerhouse generating $887 billion in consumer spending and employing 7.6 million Americans? According to the most recent report published this week by the Outdoor Industry Association, the outdoor industry is responsible for $65.3 billion in federal tax revenue and $59.2 billion in state and local tax revenue. By comparison, fossil fuel industries employ 1.1 million Americans, a fraction of the jobs supported by outdoor recreation. This makes sense when you look at the number of people who spend time on public lands: 114 million people went on a total of 11 billion outdoor outings last year. That's 114 million people whose voices need to come together to advocate for and protect our public lands. 

Will you join me in speaking up? It's easy.

1. Send Ryan Zinke an email, tweet or phone call. His email is [email protected], his office number 202.208.7351, and his Twitter handle is @SecretaryZinke.
2. Find your local legislators and send them the Outdoor Recreation Economy Report: bit.ly/2pHgzD7
3. Share this article in support of standing together. Together we will #ThriveOutside. 

Here is some sample messaging compliments of Outdoor Industry Association. Feel free to modify or simply share a specific example of how outdoor recreation has helped your community.

Facebook/LinkedIn: Do your elected officials realize how big the outdoor recreation economy is? Tell them it’s HUGE. $887 billion in consumer spending. 7.6 million American jobs. Send them Outdoor Industry Association’s latest Outdoor Recreation Economy report, and encourage them to support this powerful industry. bit.ly/2pHgzD7 #ThriveOutside

Facebook/LinkedIn: DYK outdoor recreation is an $887 billion industry that employs 7.6 million Americans? Help us advocate for the outdoors and share Outdoor Industry Association’s Outdoor Recreation Economy report with your elected officials so we can all #ThriveOutside. bit.ly/2pHgzD7

Twitter: 7.6M jobs depend on outdoor recreation. Read & share @OIA’s report with policymakers so we can #ThriveOutside. bit.ly/2pHgzD7

Twitter: Outdoor recreation fuels local economies & communities. Let’s help each other #ThriveOutside. Read & share: bit.ly/2pHgzD7

Don't hesitate. Get involved. John F. Kennedy said it best: "National parks and reserves are an integral aspect of intelligent use of natural resources. It is the course of wisdom to set aside an ample portion of our natural resources as national parks and reserves, thus ensuring that future generations may know the majesty of the earth as we know it today.”