Protecting Public Lands and the People Who Manage Them

It’s said public lands are one of the best ideas the United States has ever had, and it isn’t difficult to see why.

From iconic national parks like Yellowstone to local state parks, public lands incorporate forests, beaches, monuments, and green spaces, small and large, upon which wildlife, recreation, and industry depend. For people from all walks of life, they serve as an essential avenue to exhale, reset, and interact with our country's unique natural beauty.

Our public lands are a powerful asset that require stewardship and support from the communities for which they provide for season after season, year after year.

There’s an emotional element to the issue, as public lands are where countless memories are made, but there’s plenty of compelling economic reasons to protect public lands as the incomparable, irreplaceable resource they are.

The outdoor industry within which LIVSN operates doesn’t just depend on or benefit from public lands – it is directly built upon them. These areas are where passions are discovered—whether hiking, biking, winter sports, camping, or climbing—and this interest fuels an industry with real economic weight.

In the United States alone, outdoor recreation generates $1.1 trillion in economic output, representing 2.3% of our GDP and 3.1% of employment (roughly five million jobs). In 2024, a record-breaking 175.8 million people, over half the population, were active in outdoor recreation spaces.

All of this and more is facilitated by public lands, a designation that protects these spaces from development that would deteriorate their unique value to our society.

Of course, the economic angle is just one side of the issue, and how conservation efforts impact the broader environment and individual health bears mentioning as well.

Protecting public lands isn’t just about surface-level scenery, but rather, preserving the balance of our home.

These landscapes across the country act as a regulatory force. Forests absorb 16% of the country’s fossil fuel emissions, help maintain biodiversity, and safeguard watersheds. Public lands are essential for sensible environmental management, a system that protects the natural world, communities, and individuals alike.

Aside from the ecological impact, people need green spaces now more than ever. In an increasingly digital and frenetic world, visiting public lands and parks is a reprieve, a natural remedy for feelings of anxiety and depression while lifting overall life satisfaction. 

Unfortunately, our public lands are under attack from interests more concerned with short-term profit than long-term value. Our nation’s best idea has always been about long-term thinking and valuing what is most important: our land. We only get one home planet, and it’s in all of our interests to respect it. Now is the time for those who aren’t scared to get a little dirty to tell those who’ve never spent a night outside to get their hands off our natural spaces. Some things are best viewed from a rocky outcrop instead of a spreadsheet.

Public lands do more than enable outdoor recreation. They fuel our economy, protect ecosystems, and enable people to access the natural world. They are maintained by highly trained public servants who need the support of their communities to continue protecting the health of this natural resource we all share.

Contributing to this effort can take many forms: contacting your local representative, making financial contributions to groups fighting back, raising awareness within your own network, or participating in person at activations in your neighborhood.

At LIVSN, this issue resonates with our brand and team on a fundamental level, and we’re intent on making an impact however we can to help keep public lands safe, clean, and protected for this generation and the next. Please don’t hesitate to recommend how we can do more to help protect the resources that enable us to exist.

Thank you for your time. We know how valuable it is.