As an owner of an outdoor small business and a dad who spends as much time as I can with my family outdoors, I know how important our public lands are and how important it is that we do all we can to protect them for the future.
I applaud the Bureau of Land Management for finalizing a Public Lands Rule that will put conservation, wildlife habitat and cultural resource protection on equal footing with extractive uses for the first time in over 40 years.
The BLM’s Public Lands Rule will finally bring balance to the management of BLM lands, and ensure communities and local managers have the tools they need to create a sustainable future in Colorado and across the West.
BLM lands have been critical to the growth of Colorado’s outdoor recreation economy, attracting tourists from near and far to hike, bike, hunt and fish on the 8.3 million acres managed by the agency across the state.
According to the Colorado Outdoor Recreation Industry Office, outdoor recreation accounts for $13.9 billion in value-added (GDP) annually and contributed 130,000 direct jobs in 2022. In addition to being a significant economic engine for the state, outdoor recreation is part of Colorado’s way-of-life, with 92% of Colorado residents participating in outdoor recreation each year.
The Public Lands Rule has overwhelming support. Public support played a pivotal role in shaping the final rule with 92% of public comments submitted backing the new rule. The regulation was also supported by federal, state and local elected officials. These included Coloradans such as Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper; Representative Diana DeGette; and Representatives Joe Neguse and Brittany Pettersen, who joined nearly four dozen members of Congress voicing support.
Governor Jared Polis and other governors; and local officials, including Colorado county commissioners, mayors and City Council members joined more than 120 past and present western elected officials in calling for additional protection of lands managed by the BLM.
Businesses also support the rule. Last year, I joined more than 100 other businesses supporting the draft rule. Our businesses recognize the need to protect our public lands for our bottom lines, but also for our customers’ and families’ quality of life, for wildlife, the climate and the future.
As the owner of a business whose customers live, work and play in our public lands, I applaud the BLM for finalizing the Public Lands Rule, which will better ensure the economic and environmental future of communities across the state by finally putting conservation on equal footing with other uses.
The final Public Lands Rule will protect and restore more of our important public land for current and future generations.
Chase LaCroix is president of the Durango Outdoor Exchange.
