Panel urges outdoor spending increase

updated 7:57 p.m. ET July 6, 2009

WASHINGTON - Despite the recession, a blue-ribbon panel says the federal government should increase by tenfold its spending on outdoor recreation and conservation.

At least $3.2 billion a year — up from current funding of about $255 million — is needed to conserve and protect the nation's outdoor heritage, including parks, wildlife refuges and open space, the group says.

"In the near term, funding at this level is admittedly a difficult request," the group said in a report released Monday. "Without additional funding, however, there is little chance" to adequately protect the nation's lands and waterways.

The report by the bipartisan panel, made up of elected officials and conservationists, also calls for creation of a nationwide system of "blueways" and water trails to improve water-related recreation opportunities. The water trails would be established through public-private partnerships among federal, state and local agencies, local groups and private landowners.

First significant report since 1987
The report by the Outdoor Resources Review Group is the first major assessment of the nation's outdoor resources since a 1987 report by the President's Commission on Americans Outdoors.

Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., chaired the 1987 report as Tennessee governor. He and Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., serve as honorary co-chairs of the latest group.

The time is past due for a serious look at how to safeguard outdoor resources, the senators wrote in a foreword to the report. "Today, with a new president and a new administration, we have the opportunity to put our conservation efforts on solid footing for generations to follow," the said.

Alexander and Bingaman presented the report to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar at a Capitol news conference. Salazar said the report "deserves the utmost consideration." He called outdoor recreation a key jobs creator and said conservation is important, even in difficult economic times.

The 17-member task force was organized by Henry Diamond, an environmental lawyer and former commissioner of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation; Patrick Noonan, chairman emeritus of The Conservation Fund; and Gilbert Grosvenor, chairman of the board of the National Geographic Society.

More from msnbc.com Red Tape: Life after overdraft fees: ‘Advances’ at 120% interest! Clinic with two doors, a symbol of two-tier care Cosmic Log: Suborbital science goes public Patients face bitter choice: Pay up or lose access On Twitter: Breaking news updates | Weird and wild

MORE FROM ENVIRONMENT

Environment Section Front

Climate change fears spark ‘new nuclear age’ CO2 levels rising as climate talks loom Warming’s impacts worsened since Kyoto 5,600 new species found in deep sea   Watch the opening to ‘100 Heartbeats’ Quiz: Test your wildlife knowledge   Hollywood goes green Predatory fish nearing Great Lakes ecosystem Toxic drinking water finally tied to old mine   Ice reveals cold, hard climate facts Environment Section Front   Add Environment headlines to your news reader: