A Viable Outdoor Community
7.17
The Outdoor Retailer Summer Market (ORSM) brought athletes, gear companies, and industry folks from all over the world to Salt Lake City, Utah for its last summer. The 2018 ORSM will be hosted by the city of Denver, Co. This venue change came about after Black Diamond, Patagonia, and the Outdoor Industry Association first expressed concern over, and then pulled out of the OR Show to protest, Utah’s increasingly unfriendly policies on preserving public land.
Public Land
Patagonia spear-headed a campaign to preserve the Bear’s Ear Monument Area in southern Utah. In fall of 2016, President Obama designated the 1.3 million acre area a National Monument using the Antiquities Act. Upon the inauguration of Donald Trump in January the Governor of Utah, Gary Herbert, petitioned Trump to overturn the designation asking Trump to rescind the newly created Bears Ears National Monument.
After the January OR Winter Market Black Diamond(BD) announced it was pulling out of Outdoor Retailer as long as the show is located in Utah. BD was joined shortly afterward by Arc’teryx, Polartec, Metolius, Peak Design, Bedrock Sandals, and a few other brands. The intention was try and pressure the Utah government into seeing the Outdoor Industry as the economic driver it is and recognize the influx of money both the Summer and Winter markets bring to the City of Salt Lake and the surrounding areas, to the tune of 45 million dollars annually. The 2017 industry report states that the Outdoor Industry had $887 Billion in consumer spending and was responsible for 7.6 million American jobs per year.
The retailer's attempt at market pressure failed, and in July of this year, the OR Show announced that it would be moving to Denver for the 2018 summer market.
The Outdoor Recreation Economy
On day two of ORSM 2017 a march for public lands, followed by a panel made up of athletes Cedar Write and Alex Honnold, former Interior Secretary Sally Jewel, and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, underscored the OIA’s and the outdoor community’s commitment to public lands and waters.
“Outdoor Recreation depends on investment in America’s public lands and waters,” the OIA report on the outdoor recreation economy states. It goes on to say:
“Our public lands and waters represent the best of America to the rest of the world. The outdoor recreation economy depends on funding, management and access to public lands, which contribute to the growth of our economy and ensure that we have beautiful places to recreate.”
Alex Honnold gave this statement regarding public lands:
“Without public lands, it becomes infinitely harder to engage in the kinds of activities that outdoor businesses cater to. Public lands provide the stadium, so to speak (though maybe cathedral is better), in which outdoor sports take place.”
Reinforcing the sentiment Sally Jewell, former REI executive and Secretary of the Interior, said that “Our thriving, innovative outdoor recreation economy and the businesses that have been created, demonstrate that we don’t need to exploit our resources to derive long-term benefit—in fact, preservation of public lands supports jobs, while delivering a future we are proud to leave to new generations.”
Cedar Wright puts it more directly-“This is simple! Most outdoor recreation equipment is purchased to spend time exploring our public lands, and if there are less places to play, there will be less people who pay.”
While these comments are meant to show the business advantages of public lands they also go to show a universal good in conservation.
What’s Missing
But, I feel the need to point out two gaping holes in all this feel-good about protecting land.
Consumerism
The whole week of the OR Show is an orgy of consumerism- over consumption, free swag, and alcohol. The OIA has a series of workshops and meetings in the hotel across the street from the convention center about sustainability. There are a few companies that have adopted the Higg Index and deal with issues like animal welfare, chemical management, and social responsibility; most don’t. Walk across the street from the Marriott into the Salt Palace, and the sheer volume of goods makes a mockery of the pledges to sustainability just heard.
Each day as I scroll through social media I see new ads for the latest gear. I saw one for the perfect gear for watching the upcoming solar eclipse. Really? Do I need to find the perfect blanket to watch a natural occurrence?
The apparel industry is the second largest polluter in the world- second only to oil, according Eileen Fisher, fashion industry magnate. While some companies, like Patagonia and the Renewal Workshop renew, reuse, and recycle apparel waste the bulk of discarded or unused clothing and soft gear ends up in the land fill.
Wildlife Protection
The second gulf in this conversation is wildlife protection. Yes, we can see how protecting public lands for OUR use is important but the conversation about protecting lands and water for the other inhabitants of this planet is severely lacking.
Tucked away four layers into the OIA’s website is a page entitled “America’s Outdoor Recreation Economy Depends on Healthy Fish & Wildlife.”
Published July 23, 2017, the page reads-
“Today, we are facing a fish and wildlife crisis that could alter future Americans’ opportunities to benefit from our precious natural resources; a fundamental enhancement in how we finance conservation is needed. As more species become threatened or endangered, all Americans will be saddled with the high cost of recovery, businesses will face greater regulatory uncertainty, and important benefits like pollination, water filtration, and outdoor recreation opportunities will be reduced. Healthy fish and wildlife populations are essential to sustaining our important outdoor recreation economy. Business leaders across the country are coming together to support the recommendations of the Alliance for America’s Fish and Wildlife to dedicate much-needed funding for proactive conservation of our treasured natural resources. Please join us in our quest to protect our quality of life, our outdoor heritage and our economic prosperity.”
And this sounds great. But upon further research, it turns out the recommendation is to fund wildlife through the development of federal lands.
“The Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America’s Diverse Fish and Wildlife Resources recommends that Congress dedicate up to $1.3 billion annually in existing revenue from the development of energy and mineral resources on federal lands and waters to the Wildlife Conservation Restoration Program.” Blue Ribbon Panel Report.
What the -, What?
“The development of energy and mineral resources on federal lands and waters?”
What is this, exploit it to save it?
The outdoor realm seems to be divided into the outdoor recreation people, the land/water conservationist, and the for the flora and fauna, but who is doing both? Where are our steward-athletes?
How’s the Hudson Valley Doing?
The previous statistics cover the national level, distilled down to the local level how much better or worse are we doing in the Hudson Valley?
Currently in New York State 4,812,764 acres of land are under the management of the State Department of Environmental Conservation, classified as either Conservation Easement, Wildlife Management Area, or Forest Preserve- of which there are ten sub categories. Additionally, as of 2014, the NYS Office of Parks Recreations and Historic Preservation manages nearly 335,000 acres of public lands and facilities, including 180 state parks and 35 historic sites.
The Outdoor Retailer Summer Market (ORSM) brought athletes, gear companies, and industry folks from all over the world to Salt Lake City, Utah for its last summer. The 2018 ORSM will be hosted by the city of Denver, Co. This venue change came about after Black Diamond, Patagonia, and the Outdoor Industry Association first expressed concern over, and then pulled out of the OR Show to protest, Utah’s increasingly unfriendly policies on preserving public land.
Public Land
Patagonia spear-headed a campaign to preserve the Bear’s Ear Monument Area in southern Utah. In fall of 2016, President Obama designated the 1.3 million acre area a National Monument using the Antiquities Act. Upon the inauguration of Donald Trump in January the Governor of Utah, Gary Herbert, petitioned Trump to overturn the designation asking Trump to rescind the newly created Bears Ears National Monument.
After the January OR Winter Market Black Diamond(BD) announced it was pulling out of Outdoor Retailer as long as the show is located in Utah. BD was joined shortly afterward by Arc’teryx, Polartec, Metolius, Peak Design, Bedrock Sandals, and a few other brands. The intention was try and pressure the Utah government into seeing the Outdoor Industry as the economic driver it is and recognize the influx of money both the Summer and Winter markets bring to the City of Salt Lake and the surrounding areas, to the tune of 45 million dollars annually. The 2017 industry report states that the Outdoor Industry had $887 Billion in consumer spending and was responsible for 7.6 million American jobs per year.
The retailer's attempt at market pressure failed, and in July of this year, the OR Show announced that it would be moving to Denver for the 2018 summer market.
The Outdoor Recreation Economy
On day two of ORSM 2017 a march for public lands, followed by a panel made up of athletes Cedar Write and Alex Honnold, former Interior Secretary Sally Jewel, and Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, underscored the OIA’s and the outdoor community’s commitment to public lands and waters.
“Outdoor Recreation depends on investment in America’s public lands and waters,” the OIA report on the outdoor recreation economy states. It goes on to say:
“Our public lands and waters represent the best of America to the rest of the world. The outdoor recreation economy depends on funding, management and access to public lands, which contribute to the growth of our economy and ensure that we have beautiful places to recreate.”
Alex Honnold gave this statement regarding public lands:
“Without public lands, it becomes infinitely harder to engage in the kinds of activities that outdoor businesses cater to. Public lands provide the stadium, so to speak (though maybe cathedral is better), in which outdoor sports take place.”
Reinforcing the sentiment Sally Jewell, former REI executive and Secretary of the Interior, said that “Our thriving, innovative outdoor recreation economy and the businesses that have been created, demonstrate that we don’t need to exploit our resources to derive long-term benefit—in fact, preservation of public lands supports jobs, while delivering a future we are proud to leave to new generations.”
Cedar Wright puts it more directly-“This is simple! Most outdoor recreation equipment is purchased to spend time exploring our public lands, and if there are less places to play, there will be less people who pay.”
While these comments are meant to show the business advantages of public lands they also go to show a universal good in conservation.
What’s Missing
But, I feel the need to point out two gaping holes in all this feel-good about protecting land.
Consumerism
The whole week of the OR Show is an orgy of consumerism- over consumption, free swag, and alcohol. The OIA has a series of workshops and meetings in the hotel across the street from the convention center about sustainability. There are a few companies that have adopted the Higg Index and deal with issues like animal welfare, chemical management, and social responsibility; most don’t. Walk across the street from the Marriott into the Salt Palace, and the sheer volume of goods makes a mockery of the pledges to sustainability just heard.
Each day as I scroll through social media I see new ads for the latest gear. I saw one for the perfect gear for watching the upcoming solar eclipse. Really? Do I need to find the perfect blanket to watch a natural occurrence?
The apparel industry is the second largest polluter in the world- second only to oil, according Eileen Fisher, fashion industry magnate. While some companies, like Patagonia and the Renewal Workshop renew, reuse, and recycle apparel waste the bulk of discarded or unused clothing and soft gear ends up in the land fill.
Wildlife Protection
The second gulf in this conversation is wildlife protection. Yes, we can see how protecting public lands for OUR use is important but the conversation about protecting lands and water for the other inhabitants of this planet is severely lacking.
Tucked away four layers into the OIA’s website is a page entitled “America’s Outdoor Recreation Economy Depends on Healthy Fish & Wildlife.”
Published July 23, 2017, the page reads-
“Today, we are facing a fish and wildlife crisis that could alter future Americans’ opportunities to benefit from our precious natural resources; a fundamental enhancement in how we finance conservation is needed. As more species become threatened or endangered, all Americans will be saddled with the high cost of recovery, businesses will face greater regulatory uncertainty, and important benefits like pollination, water filtration, and outdoor recreation opportunities will be reduced. Healthy fish and wildlife populations are essential to sustaining our important outdoor recreation economy. Business leaders across the country are coming together to support the recommendations of the Alliance for America’s Fish and Wildlife to dedicate much-needed funding for proactive conservation of our treasured natural resources. Please join us in our quest to protect our quality of life, our outdoor heritage and our economic prosperity.”
And this sounds great. But upon further research, it turns out the recommendation is to fund wildlife through the development of federal lands.
“The Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America’s Diverse Fish and Wildlife Resources recommends that Congress dedicate up to $1.3 billion annually in existing revenue from the development of energy and mineral resources on federal lands and waters to the Wildlife Conservation Restoration Program.” Blue Ribbon Panel Report.
What the -, What?
“The development of energy and mineral resources on federal lands and waters?”
What is this, exploit it to save it?
The outdoor realm seems to be divided into the outdoor recreation people, the land/water conservationist, and the for the flora and fauna, but who is doing both? Where are our steward-athletes?
How’s the Hudson Valley Doing?
The previous statistics cover the national level, distilled down to the local level how much better or worse are we doing in the Hudson Valley?
Currently in New York State 4,812,764 acres of land are under the management of the State Department of Environmental Conservation, classified as either Conservation Easement, Wildlife Management Area, or Forest Preserve- of which there are ten sub categories. Additionally, as of 2014, the NYS Office of Parks Recreations and Historic Preservation manages nearly 335,000 acres of public lands and facilities, including 180 state parks and 35 historic sites.
According to the New York Protected Areas Database, a database of lands protected, designated, or functioning as open space, natural areas, conservation lands, or recreational areas, over six million acres, or approximately 20 percent, of New York State is protected publicly or privately. The map shows that greater than 20 percent of it is in the Hudson Valley/Catskills.
The OIA report states that $33.8 Billion in consumer spending was generated through the outdoor industry in New York State and that 305,000 New York jobs directly result from outdoor recreation. Further, $12.4 Billion in wages and salaries and $2.8 BILLION in state and local tax revenue come from the state’s outdoor industry.
Transition here
The Open Space Institute (OSI) Annual Report for 2016 recounts their conservation and stewardship work in the Hudson Valley/Catskills.
The OIA report states that $33.8 Billion in consumer spending was generated through the outdoor industry in New York State and that 305,000 New York jobs directly result from outdoor recreation. Further, $12.4 Billion in wages and salaries and $2.8 BILLION in state and local tax revenue come from the state’s outdoor industry.
Transition here
The Open Space Institute (OSI) Annual Report for 2016 recounts their conservation and stewardship work in the Hudson Valley/Catskills.
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It's impressive, and OSI is not alone.
Here is an incomplete list of land conservation/stewardship organizations at work in the Hudson Valley/Catskills. Our rough estimate is that there are more than 73 such organizations in the river valley and mountains. Not too shabby. As outdoor athletes who use public lands, or cathedrals,as Honnold called them, we have a responsibly to act as stewards of the lands we play in. And I’ll take this one step further. It is our mandate to preserve public lands not only for ourselves and future humans but also for plants and animals. This includes not loving nature to death. There is a credible rumor about that the 46 hiking club is considering disbanding because of over-use concerns. Balance always. The onus is on us to demand of our local, state, and federal governments that they protect flora and fauna right along with land and water. As outdoor people, it is our charge to keep our community vibrant, and that community is made up of athletes, volunteers, stewards, neighbors, environmentalist, conservationists, friends, family, and flora and fauna. Let's strive to be steward-athletes who are part of the lands, the waters, who make places safe for a diverse biology. Building a Viable Outdoor CommunityA few questions to ask yourself about your role in creating a viable outdoor community?
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Open Space Insitute 2016• Catskills-Beaverkill Valley Addition 77 acres, Town of Rockland, Sullivan County. This land is part of an ongoing effort in the Beaverkill Valley to support the protection of watersheds. • Shawangunks- Peterskill Gorge – Minnewaska Addition 312 acres, Town of Rochester, Ulster County. Acquisition protects the Peterskill Gorge and the north end of Minnewaska State Park Preserve. • Sam’s Point Addition – South Escarpment 609 acres, Town of Shawangunk, Ulster County. The largest remaining tract of privately-held land on the Ridge, it is visible throughout the Hudson Valley. Adjacent to the Ellenville Ice Caves, it enhances access to Sam’s Point. • Lower Hudson Valley- Manitoga Easement on 2 Miles of Trails, Philipstown, Putnam County. Designed by mid-century designer Russel Wright, the trail network is a National Historic Landmark. Protection ensures access to the Appalachian Trail in Hudson Highlands State Park. • Cedar House 130 acres, Town of Cornwall, Orange County Close to Storm King Art Center, the property encompasses a mix of fields and forest on the Moodna Creek. Views of Schunnemunk Mountain, Black Rock Forest, and the Hudson Highlands. • Blackrock Forest 3,777-Acre Public Access Easement Town of Cornwall, Orange County Protects access to 23 miles of hiking trails maintained by the NY/NJ Trail Conference. The project advances OSI’s effort to connect five state parks on the west side of the Hudson River. • Harriman Assemblage 626 acres, Town and Village of Woodbury and Town of Tuxedo, Orange County Land, includes views of meadows, forestland, and steep mountain ridges. It will be transferred to NYS Parks as a new access point to Harriman State Park. Tell Your Story on Peak
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