Making Our Mountains, Rivers and Forests Matter in a Modern World

New Outdoor Alliance Report Outlines Best Partnership Practices for Public Land Management

WASHINGTON, April 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A landmark report and guide has been released by Outdoor Alliance – a coalition of Access Fund, American Canoe Association, American Hiking Society, American Whitewater, International Mountain Bicycling Association and Winter Wildlands Alliance – describing innovative ways to form successful partnerships between Federal land managers and the human powered recreation community that increase the stewardship, protection and enjoyment of America's public lands and waters.

The guide is based on the outcomes of the first Outdoor Alliance Partnership Summit in December 2011, which convened 150 Federal land managers and leaders from the human powered recreation world to study successful partnerships. The report includes almost 20 case studies that illustrate how partnerships can reconnect more Americans to public lands, waters and snowscapes, all the while supporting local economies and reviving ecosystems.  

"Federal laws and regulations just aren't enough to reconnect Americans to their Great Outdoors," said Outdoor Alliance Policy Architect Adam Cramer. "But innovative partnerships between land managers, the outdoor community and others can do the trick. Partnerships give the public a permanent seat at the table regarding how their mountains, rivers and forests are cared for and enjoyed."

With the report from the Summit, Outdoor Alliance is making significant progress towards the proactive, evolved approach that partnerships offer. In the past, the human powered outdoor recreation community was on the defensive, reacting to land management decisions that decreased the quality of outdoor experiences. Now, this community has another option. Using partnerships, it can proactively protect and enhance lands, waters, and the irreplaceable experiences they offer.

The Outdoor Alliance Partnership Summit was a watershed moment for the outdoor community. All too often, efforts to protect and enhance experiences outdoors can be mired in conflict. Yet the Summit proved that great partnerships have been at work for decades, reducing conflict and enhancing experiences, and that the keys to these successes can unlock more successes in more places.

Partnerships for the sake of public lands are, if anything, more important than ever. With the Obama Administration's renewed attention towards partnerships as the key to sustainable public lands management, now is the time to follow its lead, with real, actionable recommendations for successful partnerships.

Please find a copy of the full report from the Outdoor Alliance Partnership Summit, including all the supporting materials, here.

SOURCE Outdoor Alliance