Coconino Voices: Flagstaff mayor supports Biden’s 30×30 climate plan | Columnists

These concerning statistics underscore the need for bold action, now, from our federal leadership. And in turn, local and state leaders must collaborate with our federal delegation to work toward these conservation goals and ensure that we also protect our communities and activities that sustain our local economies, including farming and ranching, hunting and fishing and outdoor recreation.

Thus far, we’ve made some encouraging progress. We’ve expanded protections for natural areas through the Great American Outdoors Act, a major conservation bill that passed last summer with bipartisan support. We know that the Antiquities Act can play a significant role in achieving the 30×30 goal through the establishment of national monuments. And we’ve seen the Nevada legislature set a national example by becoming the first state to pass a resolution of support for 30×30. Of course, putting these bills, policies and resolutions into action will take a much greater effort – one that will require the ideas and input of not just leaders, but farmers and ranchers, small businesses, conservationists, the fossil fuel industry and other stakeholders.

Though an ambitious and difficult goal to realize, the rewards are invaluable. We will not only protect our planet for future generations and mitigate the climate damage we’re seeing westwide, but we can also see our rural economies grow and diversify. Protected lands and waters are the lifeblood of the outdoor recreation industry, which generates $887 billion in economic output nationwide, creating 7.6 million jobs and generating $125 billion in tax revenue.