The excerpt below is from an opinion piece by Peter Metcalf, CEO of Black Diamond Equipment Ltd., for the Salt Lake Tribune, Aug 4, 2010.

“The outdoor industry contributes over $730 billion to the U.S. economy, supports 6.5 million jobs and generates about $88 billion in state and national tax revenue,” the author states. Public lands protection is essential to economic health and growth. The facts and figures support us; making them known is a step towards better “marketing” of public lands.

Outdoor Recreation a Long-Term Economic Boon

True or false?

Conservation of public lands is an economic problem.

Conservation of public lands is a marketing problem.

Think about it. The answer may surprise you.

In recent weeks, many publicly traded outdoor recreation companies reported double-digit earnings in the second quarter. Brands including VF Corp. (The North Face), Timberland, Adidas, Deckers (Teva and Ugg), Cabela’s, and Columbia have reported growth in 2010 concurrent to stagnating reports from Wall Street and declining consumer confidence.

The outdoor industry depends on public land so its consumers have a place to recreate using the products it sells. The economic value of these open spaces is not a problem — it is a proven resource on which these corporations and an ecosystem of other smaller businesses depend to ensure current and future profitability.

The need for progressive conservation to protect wild lands drives current economic growth in perpetuity for generations to come. Conserving open space and restoring public land secure them as a renewable resource for recreational-based industry and tourism while maintaining other important environmental values such as clean air, water, wildlife and habitat.

CLICK HERE for the full text on the Salt Lake Tribune’s website.