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SEEC Raises Climate Change Threats to Outdoor Recreation

February 5, 2014

Washington, D.C.—During today’s consideration of H.R. 3590, the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act, Members of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC) offered an amendment to ensure the Secretary of the Interior maintains the authority to consider climate change when making decisions regarding conservation and recreational activities on public lands.

Today, more than 75 percent of federal lands are open to recreational hunting, fishing, and shooting. Yet, House Republicans refuse to acknowledge that climate change threatens to irreversibly transform public lands in ways that would jeopardize the recreational activities this legislation claims to promote. For public-lands recreation climate change will mean changes in hunting seasons, migratory patterns, and native and invasive species populations. Sea level rise, wildfire, and drought all have the potential to alter landscapes and limit existing opportunities for hunting, fishing and recreation on public lands.

Our nation’s public lands currently provide 6.1 million American jobs, $646 billion in outdoor recreation spending each year, $39.9 billion in federal tax revenue, and $39.7 in state/local tax revenue. All this is threatened by climate change.

Efforts to conserve natural resources, and the recreational opportunities they provide, will help reduce the impacts of climate change. Recognizing this, the Administration has invested significantly in conserving relevant ecosystems, and is also implementing climate-adaptation strategies that promote resilience in fish and wildlife populations, forests and other plant communities, freshwater resources, and the ocean.

In addition, the President has also directed federal agencies to identify and evaluate additional approaches to improve our natural defenses against extreme weather, protect biodiversity and conserve natural resources in the face of a changing climate, and better manage our public lands and natural systems.

The amendment was offered by SEEC Vice-Chair Rush Holt (NJ), who was joined by SEEC Co-Chair Gerry Connolly (VA), SEEC Vice-Chair Doris Matsui (CA), Energy Task Force Chair Jim Langevin (RI), Members Alan Lowenthal (CA), Chris Van Hollen (MD), Matt Cartwright (PA), Keith Ellison (MN), Earl Blumenauer (OR), Raul Grijalva (AZ), Carol Shea-Porter (NH), Lois Capps (CA), Mike Quigley (IL), John Delaney (MD), and Susan Davis (CA).

“Sportsmen are among the first to notice the effects of our changing climate,” said SEEC Vice-Chair Rep. Rush Holt (NJ). “More than 75 percent of the Federal lands are open now for recreational hunting, fishing and shooting, but climate change would transform irreversibly, and in fact is transforming irreversibly, our public lands in ways that will limit the ability of sportsmen to enjoy recreational activities in these areas.”

“Today’s bill purports to be about expanding opportunities for sportsmen on federal lands, yet fails to recognize the significant effect climate change has on these opportunities,” said SEEC Co-Chair Rep. Gerry Connolly (VA). “Sportsmen are being forced to pay the price for Congress’s inaction on climate change with shortened seasons, closed parks as a result of longer wildfire seasons, and dried up streams from drought.”

“The damaging impacts of climate change are not going to disappear simply because Congress refuses to acknowledge the issue,” said SEEC Vice-Chair Rep. Doris Matsui (CA). “I’m pleased to join my SEEC colleagues in offering an amendment that is based on reality, sound science, and seeks to protect our great outdoors and public lands. We will continue to put forth amendments like this one until we see proactive policies enacted that ensure these national treasures are around for future generations to enjoy.”

"Recreation and tourism on public land is a significant source of revenue, so to overlook the very real threats posed by climate change is reckless and irresponsible," said SEEC Energy Task Force Chair Rep. Jim Langevin (RI). "Moreover, as the conservators of this public space, we owe it to the American people to do everything in our power to protect and preserve our national parks and other natural treasures."

Said Rep. Mike Quigley (IL): "This bill undermines America’s outdoor heritage by weakening environmental review and public disclosure requirements that protect our nation’s vulnerable habitats. I’m proud to stand with those who believe climate change must be at the forefront of decisions made about the conservation and recreational use of America’s public lands."

“Climate change is the defining environmental challenge of our time and I believe we have an obligation to future generations to act,” said Rep. John Delaney (MD). “The health of our public lands, which support over 6 million jobs and generate billions in tourism dollars each year, will be directly impacted by climate change. Climate change will mean increased frequency of extreme weather as well as altered migration patterns for wildlife, both of which threaten recreational activities on our public lands. For that reason, I am proud to join my colleagues in the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition on this amendment.”

"We have a responsibility to protect federal lands for future generations and our amendment would ensure the science of climate change stays a part of that effort,” said Rep. Susan Davis (CA).

“The future of recreation on our public lands is bleak if we do not start to take the serious and undeniable effects of climate change into account when making important management decisions,” said Rep. Earl Blumenauer (OR). “All Americans should have the right to enjoy these lands now, and in the future. To do that, we need to take steps now to analyze and mitigate the damage of climate change and conserve the precious natural resources we have before they are gone.”

“Our changing climate poses a significant threat to our nation’s public lands and outdoor recreation opportunities. In the face of continued inaction on this issue by House Republicans, we are putting forth an amendment to ensure that the Administration can plan for these impacts and provide continued access for generations of sportsmen and women,” said Rep. Chris Van Hollen (MD).