Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities

BLM responds to the increasing popularity of outdoor recreation

Friday, September 1, 2023
Phil's World mountain bike trail system, BLM Colorado

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has released its Blueprint for 21st Century Outdoor Recreation to chart a course for the agency’s significant and expanding role as a provider of outdoor recreation opportunities. The Blueprint is intended to guide the BLM’s investments and outreach activities, as well as the development of partnerships and programs to respond to current demand and also meet future outdoor recreation needs. The release of the Blueprint marks an important shift in how the agency will prioritize and support outdoor recreation, and is meant to facilitate sustainable resource management practices that will incorporate the BLM’s mission to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

As part of the BLM’s proactive vision for outdoor recreation, the Blueprint identifies four strategic pillars: grow and diversify funding for BLM recreation; prioritize and embrace partnerships; expand outreach and establish a culture of inclusion; and meet demand, protect resources, and improve access. The discussion of each pillar in the Blueprint includes an outline of desired outcomes, strategies, and partnership success stories that will serve as the foundation for successful 21st century recreation management at the BLM.

"The BLM’s Blueprint for 21st Century Outdoor Recreation acknowledges both the growth and importance of outdoor recreation on public lands while also emphasizing the urgency of protecting those resources from being loved to death," said Lauren Bogard, Director of Campaigns at the Center for Western Priorities. "The guidance outlined in the Blueprint to develop new partnerships, expand outreach activities, and establish a culture of inclusion will hold the BLM accountable to realize its vision of successful and inclusive outdoor recreation across all BLM-managed public lands."

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Quote of the day

”As the BLM welcomes more visitors to its national monuments and conservation areas it must adopt a more proactive approach to manage the cumulative impact of ever-increasing demand for outdoor recreation opportunities.”

—Lauren Bogard, Director of Campaigns, Center for Western Priorities

Picture This

@curecantinps

“What act of imagination will it finally require, for us to be able to speak meaningfully with one another about our shared biological fate?” – Barry Lopez, Horizon

In addition to drier conditions throughout Colorado and the American Southwest, climate change is affecting terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Warmer and drier summers enable invasive plant species to spread which affect native bird populations. Warming air temperatures also affect aquatic and human health. Learn more here - www.nps.gov/cure/learn/climate-change.htm

The sun sets over the foothills of the West Elk mountains and the sagelands of Curecanti in the adjacent image.

NPS image by Matt Johnson
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