From American Land Conservancy's American Landscapes newsletter, Fall 2009
Fully cited version
It is a uniquely American legacy. One so deeply ingrained it defines our national spirit, is woven into our anthems and literature, and inspires our collective imaginations. America’s great heritage of public lands -- from magnificent canyons and peaks to lush forests and wetlands -- nourishes our deep emotional attachment to wild places, their beauty and bounty, and the plants and animals they sustain.
Beloved as they are, our natural treasures and their acquisition and management are not free. In the early 1900s President Theodore Roosevelt protected hundreds of millions of acres of wild lands, invoking the inherent value of conservation and its importance to future generations. But can America invest in this conservation vision 100 years later, with 200 million more people, massive deficits, and a national economic crisis? Is conservation a luxury we can no longer afford?
Far from a wasteful extravagance, conservation, outdoor recreation, and publicly protected lands provide a wealth of long- and short-term economic benefits. And while a flagging economy appears to preclude conservation investments, it is important to remember that that some of our most beloved outdoor treasures were conserved when times were tough. (Several national forests, refuges, and grasslands were acquired during the Great Depression, for example.) (Gies 2009, 46) Whether it is jobs related to outdoor recreation or health benefits that help lower medical bills, conservation is a consistently sound investment, the benefits of which are enjoyed in both good economic times and bad.
The Green Economic Engine
America’s public lands, including national, state, and local parks, national forests and recreation areas, wildlife refuges, campgrounds, trails, rivers, grasslands, and seashores, sustain an outdoor recreation industry that contributes $730 billion per year to the U.S. economy and supports 6.5 million jobs (Outdoor Industry Foundation 2006, 3). Fishing and hunting alone contribute more than $205 billion annually to the economy(1), and wildlife viewing contributes another $123 billion (Leonard 2008, 3).
The impact on the overall economy is significant. Outdoor recreation retail sales ($289 billion annually) exceed annual sales of pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing, automobile and light truck manufacturing, and the motion picture and video industries. One in 20 Americans make a living in industries related to active outdoor recreation defined as fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing, biking, snow sports, paddling, camping, and trail sports); which depend in large measure on public lands. (Outdoor Industry Foundation 2006, 3, 10, 15)
The importance of public lands to the outdoor recreation industry illustrates how past conservation efforts are paying healthy dividends today and continue to be a wise investment. Below we take a closer look at the very real economic benefits of national and state parks, national wildlife refuges, national forests, and other public lands.
The Power of Public Lands
National and State Parks
The recreation opportunities, wildlife, and sheer beauty of state and national parks are a strong draw for visitors, even in difficult economic years. The National Park Service reports that 275 million people visited national parks in 2007, more than the attendance at professional baseball, football, basketball, soccer, and NASCAR events combined. (National Park Service 2008) In 2009, attendance at most national parks has increased, with some breaking previous attendance records. (National Park Service 2009 (2))
According to the National Parks Conservation Association, visitors to national parks spend over $11 billion annually in surrounding areas, generating $13.3 billion in local sales and supporting 267,000 jobs and $4.8 billion in personal income (National Parks Conservation Association 2006, 17). If all trip-related visitor spending is included (such as airfare and equipment), these impacts would be two to four times greater.
Economic benefits of parks extend beyond tourism, as individuals and companies relocate to areas rich in outdoor amenities. Between 1987 and 1997 so-called “gateway counties” near national parks enjoyed employment rates nearly twice as great and personal income growth more than 30% higher than non-park counties. These areas have also been shown to grow faster than other rural areas and, since 1970, faster than metropolitan areas. (National Parks Conservation Association 2003, 21)
More than 6,600 state parks nationwide provide similar benefits and draw even more visitors than national parks (730 million visits in 2007). (Outdoor Resources Review Group 2009, 19) California’s 279 state parks alone attract some 80 million visitors annually and contribute $4.2 billion to the state economy (California State Parks Foundation 2009, 1), generating $2.35 for every $1 spent to operate the parks. (King 2002, 2)
In addition, state and national parks provide economic benefit by increasing nearby residential property values, as has been demonstrated in more than 30 economic studies. (Harnik and Welle 2009, 1). This in turn generates tax revenue for local economies that ultimately pay for the initial conservation investment and, provided the parks are maintained, continue to generate revenue over time.
National Wildlife Refuges
A popular destination for birders, hunters, anglers, and other outdoor enthusiasts, the nation’s 550 national wildlife refuges attract some 40 million visitors per year. (Carver and Caudill 2007, ii (3)) National wildlife refuges are found in all 50 states and cover 97 million acres (4), providing exceptional benefits to wildlife in addition to outstanding recreational opportunities.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that wildlife refuges return at least $4 in economic activity for every $1 appropriated by Congress. (Carver and Caudill 2007 (5)) Most of those benefits are from non-consumptive use (for example, birding, hiking, and photography); fishing and hunting contribute nearly 20%. In 2006, visitors generated $1.7 billion in sales, creating 27,000 jobs, and resulting in $543 million in employment income. (Carver and Caudill 2007, ii) In addition, recreational spending associated with wildlife refuges generated nearly $185 million in local, state, and federal tax revenue. (Carver and Caudill 2007, iii)
A key benefit of national wildlife refuges is that they can be enjoyed almost any time of year and attract visitors from outside the area. Non-resident visitors generate 87% of the expenditures related to refuge visits (Carver and Caudill 2007, 350). Refuges are especially popular destinations for birding, an industry that on its own has an impressive economic impact. Birders generate $32 billion in retail sales and $13 billion in tax revenues each year, with an estimated $85 billion economic impact overall. (LaRouche 2003, 15)
National Forests
The nation’s 155 national forests cover 193 million acres in 44 states (and Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands), (U.S. Forest Service 2008) more than 8% of the U.S. land mass. The U.S. Forest Service also manages 20 national grasslands, consisting of another 3.8 million acres (U.S. Forest Service 2009) In 2007, nearly 180 million visits were made to national forests (U.S. Forest Service Oct. 2008, 6), which resulted in an estimated $11.2 billion economic impact in the vicinity of national forests alone. (U.S. Forest Service, “Forest Service Recreation Contributes to the National Economy,” no date provided)
National forests provide non-recreation economic benefits as well. Some 60 million Americans get their drinking water from sources originating in national forests. (Ryan 2004, 4) Based on the willingness of the public to pay for drinking water, this equates to a value of $3.7 billion per year. (Sedell 2000, ii) More than 900 municipal watersheds are located within national forests, and the relatively high quality of that water helps reduce costs. A 2002 study by the Trust for Public Land and the American Water Works Association found that forests can reduce treatment and chemical costs by 20% for every 10% increase in forest cover (up to 60% cover). (Ernst 2004, 21)
National forests are an important part of the $730 billion active outdoor recreation industry, which includes a wide range of nature-based pastimes enjoyed by an estimated 75% of the U.S. population. (Outdoor Industry Foundation 2006, 3)
Other Public Lands and Resources
Nature-based economic benefits are derived from other public lands and resources as well. These include the 54,000-mile National Trails System (including the Pacific Crest Trail, the Appalachian Trail, and others); (Federal Interagency Council on Trails 2009, 2) Wild and Scenic Rivers (which cover 11,000 miles on 166 rivers) (National Wild and Scenic Rivers, 2007); and the 256 million acres managed by the Bureau of Land Management, (which encompass 27 million acres of wilderness and recreation resources within the National Landscape Conservation System and include National Monuments, Wilderness Areas, historic trails, and numerous cultural sites). (Bureau of Land Management, 2009, and Bureau of Land Management Information and Publishing Services Section, 2009)
Indirect benefits
Our public lands provide many other benefits with economic implications:
Ecological Services: Forests, refuges, and other intact landscapes buffer the effects of floods and wildfire, support healthy fisheries, act as carbon sinks, reduce air pollution, provide a home for insects that pollinate crops and birds and organisms that control pests and diseases, provide medicinal plants as well as resources for science and education, (ECONorthwest 2006, 2) and increase water supplies (old growth forests have been shown to increase precipitation in some areas by nearly 30%). (ECONorthwest 2006, 9). They also provide important and often critical habitat to hundreds of fish and wildlife species. For example, national forests are home to 30% of proposed, threatened, or endangered species. (Ryan 2004, 6)
Health Benefits: Natural areas provide numerous health benefits, and public lands help ensure ready access to outdoor recreation. This is especially important as childhood obesity, heart disease, and other health problems related to inactivity are on the rise. Children’s outdoor activity has been shown to increase creative play, boost immune systems, decrease hyperactivity, and reduce incidence of depression. Natural areas provide many health benefits to adults as well. A 2001 study in the Netherlands showed that people living near parks, forests, and other green space reported fewer physical and mental health complaints than those in other areas. (Sherer 2006, 15) Other studies show that just seeing or driving by parks or green spaces lowers stress levels. (Ho 2003, 3)
A National Priority
As parks and other public lands face slashed budgets, backlogged maintenance needs, staff cuts, and threats of closure, public awareness of the importance of these resources has increased and support is stronger than ever. In November, 2008, when the country was facing a still-unfolding financial crisis and a debilitating recession, voters across the country nevertheless approved 71% of conservation initiatives on local ballots, generating $7.3 billion for land protection. (Gies 2009, 47)
In addition, proposed park closures have seen strong public outcry, such as California’s “Save Our State Parks” (SOS) campaign. The public has spoken up for parks and green space in other states where they have been threatened as well, tapping a deeply held - and often passionate - belief in the need for public lands. One petition-signer from Washington state summed it up well: “In times of economic crisis, state parks provide one of the only means of affordable recreation. Open green spaces and natural areas are good for the soul and pocketbook.” (Allen, 2009)
Exactly.
