Outdoor Alliance

At the end of last year, we achieved a big win for public lands and outdoor recreation: the passage of the EXPLORE Act through Congress. Outdoor Alliance and partners like The Mountaineers were instrumental in developing and advocating for EXPLORE, legislation that includes the SOAR Act. The SOAR Act has been a top priority for Outdoor Alliance and its member groups for a decade now. The Mountaineers helped lead on advocacy efforts for SOAR because of its benefits for programs that utilize permits for group outings on public lands. Passing the SOAR Act was a victory ten years in the making, and it would not have happened without years of sustained outreach, support, and advocacy from the outdoor recreation community. Mountaineers staffer Katherine Hollis, who helped draft the original bill said, “It’s a testament to the power of The Mountaineers voice, strong partnerships, and years of advocacy, that federal legislation on this issue has been signed into law.” Learn more about SOAR, and what the next steps are in implementing it.

Over the weekend, the administration shared its plans to roll back protections for nearly a million acres of public land, including the newly designated Chuckwalla and Sáttítla National Monuments. Tribes, as well as local partners in California worked for years to permanently protect these two places, which are vital to the outdoor recreation community, local economies, and cultural heritage. “These are landscapes where climbers, hikers, paddlers, and cyclists connect with the outdoors, and strengthening communities across California. The widespread support from Tribes, outdoor enthusiasts, businesses, and conservationists reflects how much these places mean to people,” said Katie Hawkins, Outdoor Alliance’s California Program Director. Leaders must respect the voices of Californians who have fought to protect these landscapes, and to keep public lands public. Use our form to tell your lawmakers to stand up for Chuckwalla and Sáttítla National Monuments: https://lnkd.in/gdyDgqt5

All of us at Outdoor Alliance are truly heartbroken to hear about Rep. Raúl Grijalva’s passing. He was a tireless champion for public lands and waters, climate, environmental justice, outdoor recreation, and most importantly, all of the people those issues touch. "Our hearts are with his family, staff, and colleagues, and I truly hope that our country’s leaders continue to look to him as a model for courageous leadership on some of the very most important issues we collectively face. I know we will,” said Louis Geltman, Vice President for Policy and Government Relations at Outdoor Alliance. Among his many contributions, we are particularly grateful for Rep. Grijalva’s leadership in championing legislation like the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation Management and Recreation Act, the EXPLORE Act, the Clean Energy Minerals Reform Act, and the Environmental Justice For All Act.

Led by Outdoor Alliance, 120 outdoor recreation organizations and businesses are calling on lawmakers and the Trump Administration to reverse staffing cuts at land management agencies. Signatories include a number of outdoor brands, advocacy groups, as well as a range of other local recreation organizations and outdoor industry businesses. In the past month, an estimated 10-30% of staff at the Forest Service (USFS), National Park Service (NPS), and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have been laid off. “Outdoor recreation experiences depend on well-managed public lands, and these staffing cuts are already making it harder for people to access and enjoy the places they love,” said Louis Geltman, Vice President for Policy and Government Relations at Outdoor Alliance. Without adequate staffing, our experiences outside, the health of public lands, and the outdoor recreation economy will suffer. Join us in asking members of Congress to take urgent action to protect the workforce that keeps America’s public lands safe, accessible, and well cared for.

“The outdoors is something that pretty much anybody can relate to, and those conversations open doors to relationship building, finding common ground, and moving the needle on local issues, and outdoor recreation policy.” - Traci Berry, Northwoods Trails Coordinator Traci Berry lives in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and is the Northwoods Trails Coordinator. She is a lover of the outdoors and all things adventure. She is also a part of Outdoor Alliance’s Grasstops Collective, a leadership and advocacy program that trains leaders in the outdoor community to build relationships with lawmakers and advocate for conservation priorities. Learn more about how she got her start in advocacy work, and how you can also harness your passion for the outdoors via our Outdoor Allies series.

Utah has built a reputation as an outdoor paradise, but that brand only holds up if places are well cared for. “We need to make sure the people who steward our public lands have the resources to do their jobs.” - Dani Poirier, Director of Wasatch Backcountry Alliance (WBA) For decades, groups like the Wasatch Backcountry Alliance have worked alongside land managers to keep the places we love in good shape and accessible to the public. Volunteers put in thousands of hours, but they can’t replace trained staff. It takes real investment to keep Utah’s trails, canyons and backcountry safe and accessible. Whether you’re a skier, hiker, business owner or just someone who cares about Utah’s future, now is the time to speak up for Utah’s public lands. https://lnkd.in/gZNaE8zV

Deeper cuts are being threatened at land management agencies and the outdoors are at stake. While some offices are seeing positions restored, agencies are now being required to submit plans for a Reduction in Force (RIF) by March 13, meaning even more cuts are on the horizon. Although some agencies have estimated that only 10% of their staff were laid off, up to half of the staff that were terminated are recreation positions, which will have significant effects on outdoor recreation. We’ve heard from recreation technicians from the Stanislaus National Forest and Dixie National Forest, who work to maintain trails, clean up campgrounds, and improve recreation areas. Without these staff positions, trails and facilities will fall into disrepair. With additional cuts coming, we need to keep the pressure on lawmakers and the administration. Write to your representatives today to demand full restoration of agency staff, because without them our outdoor spaces will suffer. https://lnkd.in/gKWchqxW

We want to hear from you! How are layoffs within federal land management agencies affecting your local trails? If you're part of an International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) Local Member Organization or other trail organization, we want to hear about how federal layoffs and funding freezes are impacting the places you get outside. Mountain bike advocates, trail champions and local leaders have worked closely with federal land management agency staff for more than 35 years. These relationships are key in stewarding our public lands and trails. Please contribute any known examples, and read more about what we know so far: https://lnkd.in/gh_aaYxy

Over the years, oil and gas leasing has been in frequent conflict with outdoor recreation. Leasing proposals near places like Zion National Park, Utah’s San Rafael Swell, and Caliente, Nevada have been unpopular because they threaten outdoor experiences. Public Land Solutions and Outdoor Alliance have released a whitepaper emphasizing the need to protect outdoor recreation areas from conflicts with oil and gas leasing. This report comes at a critical moment, as the US Senate has just introduced legislation that would effectively hand over more than 200 million acres of public lands to the oil and gas industry without any regard for the impact on recreation or the concerns of local communities. “Our public lands provide incredible opportunities for outdoor recreation, economic vitality, and livability for gateway communities,” said Louis Geltman, Outdoor Alliance Vice President for Policy and Government Relations. Read the report and our recommendations for protecting outdoor recreation experiences: https://lnkd.in/gu_YvW6J

BREAKING NEWS! National Parks restore seasonal staff positions, while the Forest Service is still understaffed. Some forests are working to restore key positions, but recreation and our public lands remain at risk. Thanks to the outdoor recreation community, we have sent over 100,000 letters advocating for the protection of public lands and its workforce. Lawmakers are listening, but we’re not out of the woods yet. Some forests are working to restore key seasonal and recreation positions, but overall, the staffing crisis remains severe. Unfortunately, both agencies have already lost a lot of time and we expect spring and summer recreation to be affected by a lack of staffing. The outdoor community must continue to stay engaged on this issue. Keep writing your lawmakers! Calls really matter, too. We’ve made it easy to send a message: https://lnkd.in/gkpkvRwp