(April 9, 2025) – Right now, America’s public lands are at risk of being sold, defunded, or developed, and businesses are speaking up. Over 60 businesses have joined together to send a powerful message: protecting our public lands is critical to individuals, communities and businesses across the country. The Conservation Alliance is taking a leadership role in the formation and organization of the new business coalition, Brands for Public Lands, and partnering with other nonprofits and businesses alike in order to build their movement of businesses defending public lands.
While local organizations, Tribal groups, and NGOs have mobilized to take action in support of public lands protections in previous months – showcasing that public lands are widely valued across ideology, demographics, and geography – the business community has largely remained quiet. Until now.
Public lands are a significant contributor to the overall economy and GDP. According to the BLM, in fiscal year 2023 there were 82 million visits to BLM-managed public lands, driving over $10 billion worth of economic activity in and around these landscapes. They are also the backdrop for a $1.2 trillion outdoor economy. It’s in the best interest of businesses across a variety of industries for public lands to remain safeguarded from threats like improperly regulated oil and gas drilling, mining, and other types of exploration and development. The business voice is critical in ensuring the protection of lands and waters and it’s vital that businesses – especially those that rely on outdoor spaces – stand up against recent attacks and demonstrate their value to decision makers.
Brands for Public Lands, comprises companies headquartered in 17 states representing varying industries and interests – from outdoor apparel and gear, to media, retailers, and tourism. Overall the group represents over 48,000 employees and over $17.5 billion in revenue.
Working to maximize their impact in conserving federally managed lands and waters, Brands for Public Lands’ core areas of focus will include: Stopping the wholesale sell off of public lands; Defending against threats to National Monuments; and Protecting iconic landscapes, National Monuments, Wilderness Areas, and more, from industrial extraction. Each company has committed to actions such as elevating any specific attacks related to these issues to their customers, leveraging their brand names to influence policymakers, or participating in direct lobbying efforts.
The group delivered two letters to decision makers in Washington today. One letter, signed by 45 companies, asked Congressional leadership, who are in the midst of the budget reconciliation process, not to move forward with large-scale public lands sell-offs to pay down the national debt or to pay for tax cuts.
The second letter, directed to Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, requested that the administration follow the long-established precedent of soliciting public input – and especially local input – before making any significant decisions related to land management. This letter was signed by 48 companies.
“The businesses who have joined Brands for Public Lands know that our nation’s natural resources are invaluable, not for extracting what lies deep beneath their surface, but for the vitality they provide to so many of us in their protected state. Threats to public lands are threats to the natural and cultural resources they protect, the millions of jobs and thousands of businesses they support, and the myriad communities they sustain,” said Paul Hendricks, Executive Director of The Conservation Alliance. “Together, our coalition of businesses can demonstrate why public lands matter for our communities and our economy.”
“Our public lands are more than assets on a balance sheet. They are where we connect with nature and they serve as economic drivers for local communities, the $1.2 trillion outdoor industry and the 5 million people who work within it. Patagonia stands with the dozens of like minded businesses and organizations protecting public lands before they’re lost forever.” – Ryan Gellert, CEO of Patagonia
“A priceless and irreplaceable resource that can’t be reduced to a line item on a balance sheet, our public lands are intrinsically tied to the life-defining pursuits of climbing, skiing and mountain sports that our company was built to serve. We are proud to stand with brands and public lands users of all types in opposition to these short-sighted proposals.” – Neil Fiske, CEO of Black Diamond Equipment
“Backpacker’s Pantry is committed to our continued partnership with The Conservation Alliance as we collectively build Brands for Public Lands. We believe in the intrinsic value of public lands as wild open places that we play in for our health and wellbeing, as well as the health of our planet. We are proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with the brands that also care about our public lands and will work to keep wild open places accessible for all.” – Soraya Smith, President of American Outdoor Products
About The Conservation Alliance
The Conservation Alliance harnesses the power of businesses from a wide range of industries to protect outdoor spaces and wild places. We drive a proactive agenda to protect nature utilizing strategic advocacy and grantmaking, leveraging business influence, and building deep partnerships with grassroots organizations and local communities to collectively deliver high impact conservation outcomes, protecting North America’s outdoor places and wild spaces for everyone. Since 1989, we’ve awarded over $33.5 million in grants and helped protect over 124 million acres and 4,964 river miles, remove or halt 43 dams, purchase 22 climbing areas, and designate five marine reserves and one national marine sanctuary. For complete information about The Conservation Alliance, visit conservationalliance.com.
Media Contact:
Lilly Zoller
248-302-1553
lilly@conservationalliance.com
