Conservation News June 2021

AVI KWA AME UPDATE

BREAKING NEWS! 

Last night, the Searchlight Town Advisory Board voted unanimously to support a national monument designation for Avi Kwa Ame! This comes after Boulder City’s unanimous vote in late March.  

Searchlight residents are fighting to protect their community’s viewshed, access to outdoor recreation, and finally put to rest repeated threats of industrial development on the proposed monument lands. 

“The monument designation will offer Searchlight gentle economic growth and influence —growth of existing businesses, a gentle influx of new people who are attracted to living here. It wouldn’t be a dramatic change,” says Kim Garrison Means of Searchlight. 

Researchers at Headwaters Economics agree, touting that national monument designations are good for local economies, stimulating the growth of jobs and businesses while also reducing the number of business closures for rural gateway communities.

Headwaters Economics summarizes recent studies on the role of national monument designation on local economies. The report examines a half-dozen recent peer-reviewed studies that evaluate the local economic impact of designating a national monument. The research concludes that, in many cases, a national monument designation can improve local economies. (The report is here.)

Click Here to Support Making Avi Kwa Ame Nevada’s 4th National Monument

MEET OUR NEW MEMBERS!

WHAT HAPPENED THIS SESSION? 

COLIN ROBERTSON OF NEVADA’S DIVISON OF OUTDOOR RECREATION BREAKS IT DOWN

SB 449 A bill that amended the NRS to move the authority/responsibility to administer the State’s Outdoor Education and Recreation Grant Program from the Nevada Division of State Parks to the Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation. It followed a budget bill that also moved budget accounts and a position tied to this program to the Division of Outdoor Recreation. The Upshot: The program encourages philanthropic investment in getting underprivileged youth outdoors. 

SB 43 A bill that amends the makeup of the Advisory Board on Outdoor Recreation to include three additional seats to make a total of 14 seats. They  include:
-One representative of the U.S. Department of the Interior (non-voting, from BLM or National Park Service)
-One representative of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (non-voting, from U.S. Forest Service or USDA Rural Development)
-One representing the Nevada Association of Counties, appointed by the Governor from a list of recommendations submitted to the Governor from NACO (voting member)

SB 52 A bill that creates a state program for designating dark sky areas in Nevada. The intent is to create a voluntary, locally-led opportunity for communities to work to protect dark sky resources as important natural and cultural resources and as a driver of the rural community and economic development tied to outdoor recreation and tourism. 

WHAT ELSE HAPPENED?
A bill regarding the Nevada Department of Wildlife amended rules to allow falconers to help rehabilitate injured golden eagles and work with them for falconry while being rehabilitated.

AND WHAT ABOUT CYCLING?

SB 285: Revises provisions relating to transportation
https://legiscan.com/NV/drafts/SB285/2021

SB 383 
Revises provisions relating to electric bicycles
https://legiscan.com/NV/text/SB383/id/2404228
https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/NELIS/REL/81st2021/Bill/8073/Text

OUTDOOR INDUSTRY NEWS

The Outdoor Retailer Inspiration Awards celebrate champions of the outdoor community who inspire and encourage others to enjoy, participate in, and support outdoor recreation. Annual awards are presented to individuals, organizations, and companies. 

Nominations for the 2021 Outdoor Retailer Inspiration Awards will be accepted up until 5 p.m. PT on June 23, 2021.

NOMINATIONS

Who inspires you? Who is sharing their voice or platform to better the lives of others through the outdoors? Who is taking action to improve the outdoor experience and foster equitable access? What brands and organizations are making significant contributions to encourage outdoor recreation and promote sustainable participation? What are those in the outdoor industry doing to assist others and the community during times of need?

Consider all angles of inspiration when nominating – impact, creativity, service, philanthropy, engagement, longevity, technology, sustainability, activities, adversity, and awareness.

Nomination categories include:

• Individual
• Emerging
• Leader
• Manufacturer
• Nonprofit
• Retailer   

NOMINATE HERE