Outdoor Recreation Roundtable (ORR) provided the following statement after President Biden released an updated Build Back Better plan.
“The Build Back Better plan includes historic investments in fighting climate change that are necessary to grow our nation’s economy, bolster the $788 billion outdoor recreation economy and protect the public lands and waters our industry relies on,” said Jessica Wahl Turner, president of ORR. “Funding climate resilient outdoor infrastructure strengthens communities and provides Americans with more opportunities to get outside and reap all the benefits of spending time in nature.”
Turner continued, “Additionally, the Creation of the Civilian Climate Corps included in the Build Back Better plan will support diverse young people working on needed conservation and recreation projects and serve as a critical pipeline for 21st century jobs in the outdoor recreation economy, all while promoting conservation and making outdoor spaces more climate resilient.”
Other programs that will support the needs of recreation access and infrastructure being impacted by climate change:
● $1.25B to carry out projects for the protection and resiliency of public lands and resources
● $750M to carry out ecosystem and habitat restoration projects on public lands and waters
● $500M for wildfire management
● $400M for deferred maintenance and housing on NPS
● $100M for urban parks plus $10m to administer those funds
● $1.25B for the Forest Legacy Program
● $6B for restoring habitat and bolstering coastal resistance
● Almost $2B for salmon habitat restoration, science assessments and hatcheries
● Funding supporting 300,000 members of Civilian Conservation Corps