Here in Oregon, outdoor quality of life is paramount, and outdoor recreation means business. Direct consumer spending on outdoor recreation adds $12.8 billion per year to our state's economy, and supports 141,200 jobs. On a national level, outdoor recreation contributes more than $646 billion annually to the U.S. economy.
As Oregon business leaders, we know how important it is to safeguard Oregon's outdoor and natural heritage. This state's signature public lands and parks form the bedrock of our industry. They inspire us, they provide important wildlife habitat, and they are outdoor playgrounds for our customers and employees. We take very seriously our responsibility to help protect them for generations to come.
That's why we're speaking up in support for keeping public lands in public hands, protecting Oregon's natural heritage via national monuments and wilderness, and ensuring full and dedicated funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Now is the time to protect Oregon's conservation priorities. We thank you Senator Wyden for your leadership to protect Oregon's wilderness areas through the Oregon Treasures Act and Devils Staircase-and for advancing wilderness proposals through the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee that will ensure greater access to outdoor recreation across our nation.
We urge you to continue to prioritize conservation and recreation issues on an equal ground that is crucial to our outdoor recreation industry and to our Oregon communities, so that present and future generations can continue to enjoy the great outdoors. We look forward to working together toward that brighter future together.
View a PDF of the letter from Oregon's outdoor recreation business community to Senator Wyden here.
Thank you ads to Senator Wyden, like above, have been published in the Willamette Week, the Oregonian and on OregonLive.com.