Bureau of Land Management’s Blueprint Will Improve Outdoor Recreation Experiences
Camping In Alabama Hills | Photo Credit William Woodward
As demand for outdoor recreation opportunities grows, land management agencies will need both the vision and resources to meet these growing needs.
In late summer, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its Blueprint for 21st Century Outdoor Recreation. This blueprint offers a vision for improving and expanding high-quality outdoor recreation opportunities on the 245 million acres of public lands that the BLM manages.
BLM lands are beloved among outdoor recreationists for their vast resources but also for, as the agency puts it, “the relative freedom people enjoy shaping their own experiences.” In contrast with more regulated recreation destinations, such as many National Parks, BLM lands offer fewer crowds and greater chances for exploration. BLM lands are especially popular for mountain biking, climbing, hunting and fishing, and motorized use.
Since 2015, visits to BLM lands have increased by 35% (source). The outdoor recreation economy is also growing, contributing over $1 trillion to the U.S. economy (source). And yet, there has been no meaningful investment in the BLM that would allow it to keep up with growing visitation and the growing economy.
The Blueprint explores a vision of how to invest in, protect, and enhance sustainable and equitable recreation on the BLM’s 245 million acres of land. The BLM invited feedback on the blueprint, which Outdoor Alliance provided here. The Blueprint explores four different pillars of work where the BLM can expand and improve outdoor recreation experiences.
Grow and Diversify Resources for BLM Recreation
As demand for recreation grows, the BLM will need concerted resources to sustainably meet this demand. The BLM will need to leverage resources from current funding streams, such as the Great American Outdoors Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. The BLM will also explore user fees as a way to supplement recreation funding, a strategy that Outdoor Alliance has suggested the agency approach with caution and with public input.
Prioritize and Embrace Partnerships
The BLM will expand partnerships, which offers opportunities for on-the-ground organizations, including Outdoor Alliance member groups, to share their knowledge about recreation on BLM lands. Outdoor Alliance’s GIS data, the most comprehensive existing system of outdoor recreation data, can also aid the BLM in planning for outdoor recreation.
Expand Outreach and Establish a Culture of Inclusion
The BLM plans to foster an inclusive and welcoming environment for diverse visitors to public lands and waters. Part of this pillar is to better promote outdoor recreation on BLM lands, including through outreach to youth and undeserved communities.
Meet the Demand, Protect Resources, and Improve Access
The BLM plans to improve recreation planning as well as visitor use monitoring and data—crucial information that will help the agency both understand and plan around recreation on BLM lands. Better data on recreation could also help prevent conflicts with oil and gas leasing or other development, and will help the agency target potential conservation efforts through the Public Lands Rule. Outdoor Alliance’s GIS program can also serve as a valuable partner on these data planning efforts.
Adam Cramer, Outdoor Alliance’s CEO, said, "The blueprint presents an inspiring and modern vision for BLM lands, one that aims to make access to BLM's exquisite and wild places not just sustainable, but far more equitable. From embracing data and dedicated community liaisons, to taking into account climate resilience, the blueprint has a collection of promising elements to enable a thoughtful and modern reset of BLM's approach to outdoor recreation. We are excited for the path ahead."
The new Foundation for America’s Public Lands, the BLM’s official charitable partner, also hosted a number of roundtables to gather feedback in response to the Blueprint. They shared some of the key insights from the roundtables, as well as a roadmap for how to move forward, that you can read here.
You can learn more about the blueprint from the BLM right here and our letter to the BLM with feedback on the blueprint here.