The Conservation Alliance Applauds New Browns Canyon National Monument
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The Conservation Alliance applauds President Obama for designating the Browns Canyon National Monument. This proclamation preserves 22,000 acres of Forest Service and BLM land in Colorado. In addition to protecting habitat values, the new monument safeguards a $60-million whitewater rafting economy on the Arkansas River.
“Browns Canyon is among the most popular whitewater rafting destinations in the United States,” said John Sterling, Executive Director of The Conservation Alliance. “With this proclamation, President Obama continues his legacy of protecting special wild places with designations that enjoy strong local support.”
Several Conservation Alliance grantees, including Conservation Lands Foundation, Conservation Colorado, and American Whitewater, worked with local stakeholders to secure this designation.
Former Colorado Senator Mark Udall introduced legislation last year to designate Browns Canyon as a National Monument, but Congress failed to move the bill. Udall’s legislation specified that paddling on the Arkansas would continue to be managed by the Colorado State Parks as it is today. The President’s proclamation of Browns Canyon National Monument honors the spirit of Udall’s legislation, which followed a multi-year process of input from local residents, paddlers, ranchers, and businesses.
“We thank President Obama for recognizing this special place, and protecting Browns Canyon forever,” said Sterling.
About the Conservation Alliance:
The Conservation Alliance is an organization of outdoor businesses whose collective contributions support grassroots environmental organizations and their efforts to protect wild places where outdoor enthusiasts recreate. Alliance funds have played a key role in protecting rivers, trails, wildlands and climbing areas.
Membership in the Alliance is open to companies representing all aspects of the outdoor industry, including manufacturers, retailers, publishers, mills and sales representatives. The result is a diverse group of businesses whose livelihood depends on protecting our natural environment.
Since its inception in 1989, the Alliance has contributed more than $14 million to grassroots conservation groups. Alliance funding has helped save more than 44 million acres of wildlands; protect 2,825 miles of rivers; stop or remove 26 dams; designate five marine reserves; and purchase nine climbing areas.
For complete information on the Conservation Alliance, seewww.conservationalliance.com.
John Sterling
541-389-2424
john@conservationalliance.com
Julie Evans
970-259-3555
julie@verdepr.com
