Outdoor Industry Association is a national trade association representing the manufacturers and retailers of outdoor recreation equipment. Our member companies supply gear to the more than 159 million Americans who hike, bike, camp, kayak, birdwatch and ski. 

The most enthusiastic of these participants seek destinations where natural tranquillity is abundant, where spectacular landscapes, wildlife, and wildflowers are the rule and where they can get away from their busy lives, recreate and renew their spirits.

Colorado's Mt. Elbert, a popular hiking destination and the second highest mountain in the lower 48 states is located on Roadless land as is Arizona's Reef of Rocks-a destination for rock climbers around the country.

For these reasons, the human-powered outdoor recreation community strongly supports the original roadless rule. 

Today, I would like to highlight the lesser-known economic role that active outdoor recreation plays in the U.S. economy. 

•  Recreation creates an estimated 75 percent of the Gross Domestic Product generated from Forest Service lands. Much of this recreation occurs in Roadless areas.
• Active Outdoor Recreation:
  

  • Contributes $730 billion annually to the U.S. economy
  • Supports 6.5 million jobs in the U.S.
  • Generates $88 billion in annual state and national tax revenue
  • Generates $289 billion annually in retail sales and services

The economic impact is greatest for the Rocky Mountain and Pacific Northwest regions -- not coincidently the location of the vast majority of Roadless lands. I am happy to provide state specific economic impact, jobs, taxes paid and sales figures later in the call.

The bottom line is the Active Outdoor Recreation Economy and its continued growth is fundamentally based on the availability and preservation of high-quality places to play. Among the many other good reasons, the protection of Roadless Areas is also the smartest economic choice.