Four ways to directly support the outdoors right now

With a constant stream of news about public lands right now, it’s hard to know how to effectively channel the desire to do good into action. With more than a decade of advocacy under our belts, Outdoor Alliance knows how to secure bipartisan wins and protections for public lands. We’ve been able to secure huge wins in unlikely moments, like passing a historic public lands package as well as the Great American Outdoors Act in 2019 and 2020. The best thing people who care about the outdoors can do right now is channel their care and concern into action.

Here are four things you can do right now that will tangibly help public lands and conservation:

Defend public lands: Ask lawmakers to reverse staffing cuts

Last week, the Park Service, Forest Service, and other public land agencies laid off about 10% of their workforce. This will have profound impacts for outdoor recreation in the immediate future. As Louis Geltman, Outdoor Alliance’s VP of Policy and Government Relations, said: “Land managers are at the front line for stewarding the resources we all care so much about, and the loss of these workers will have real, tangible impacts on our public lands and waters, outdoor recreation, and community safety as we start to move into fire season.”

 Without adequate staffing and resources, our experiences outside, the health of our public lands, and the outdoor recreation economy will suffer. Congress and the administration must take urgent action to restore the critical workforce that keeps our public lands open, safe, and maintained.

Please write your lawmakers right now and ask them to push back against cuts to land management agencies.

Take proactive action: Speak up for the Public Lands in Public Hands Act

Recently, Congressman Zinke (MT-1) and Congressman Vasquez (NM-2) introduced the bipartisan Public Lands in Public Hands Act, which will keep public lands public by reaffirming congressional approval for large-scale transfer or disposal of public lands and waters. The bill helps to protect the public lands and waters for all their benefits to Americans, including for outdoor recreation.   

Legislation like this serves as an important statement of bipartisan support for public lands, pushing back against proposals that could undermine outdoor recreation, conservation, and public access. It reinforces the broad commitment to keeping public lands protected now and for future generations.

Please raise your voice in support of this bill by learning more and contacting your lawmakers.

Be ready for what’s next: sign up for Outdoor Alliance’s email alerts

As we’ve already seen in the last month, the status of policies facing public lands can change quickly. Sign up for Outdoor Alliance’s email alerts to get up-to-date information and analysis. Plus, we’ll send you action alerts that empower you to contact decisionmakers directly about threats facing conservation. Outdoor Alliance makes it easy to reach out to lawmakers, allowing you to take action in less than 2 minutes. We depend on the outdoor community to raise their voices in support of public lands, so we’ll need you to help us affect change by speaking up.

Help us defend public lands: become a donor

Outdoor Alliance works day in and day out to secure protections for public lands, defend access to the outdoors, and make outdoor recreation a priority for lawmakers. This work takes time and expertise. Outdoor Alliance depends on donations to make our advocacy work possible. Our dedicated circle of monthly donors provide support we can depend on throughout the year, because our work to advocate for the outdoor recreation community doesn’t stop. Please become a monthly donor if you believe in protecting our beloved public lands.