Outdoor recreation on public lands is booming, but the funding to manage those lands is shrinking. As maintenance backlogs grow and budgets vital for outdoor recreation, public lands and waters tighten— the question is dire: will anyone bear the cost of managing public lands? And what happens if no one does? As federal funding falters, states, nonprofits, and local communities are stepping in. But is that a sustainable solution—or does it fundamentally reshape what national public lands are meant to be?

SPEAKERS:

• Betsy Robblee, Conservation and Advocacy Director, The Mountaineers

• John Garder, Senior Director of Budget & Appropriations, National Parks Conservation Alliance

• Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources

• Moderator: Garrett Brennan, Raven Analytics + Three Pin Strategy

RESOURCES:

• ⁠⁠Great American Outdoors Act

• Land And Water Conservation Fund

• America the Beautiful Act

• National Parks Conservation Association

• Keep Colorado Wild Pass

• Outdoor Alliance

• ⁠⁠Subscribe to Winter Wildlands Alliance⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ⁠⁠⁠⁠Winter Wildlands Alliance Stash Blog⁠⁠⁠⁠

• ⁠Winter Wildlands Alliance Action Center⁠

SUPPORTED BY: Outdoor Alliance, REI Co-op, The Mountaineers, Duct Tape Then Beer/Dirt Bag Diaries, High Country News, Phreem Family Brewers, and University of Washington’s Pack Forest.

CREDITS:

• Produced and co-hosted by Anneka Williams and Emily Scott
• Edited by Adam Titmuss
• Theme music by Rattlesnake Preachers feat. Kerry McClay
• Additional Music by Blue Dot Sessions