Why Public Lands Matter to the Work We Do

By Lyn Tally, Atlantic Packaging

Last month, I traveled to Washington with a group of business leaders and outdoor advocates from across the country- all members of The Conservation Alliance. Together, we met with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle to talk about something we all care about: protecting the public lands that support recreation, communities, and a thriving outdoor economy.

We focused on three priorities:

• Addressing a legislative proposal that could allow for public land transfers outside of the standard public process
• Securing full funding for land management agencies that maintain trails, campsites, and recreation access points
• Ensuring local communities and businesses have a voice in decisions that affect the future of public lands

At first glance, this kind of policy work might seem distant from the world of packaging. But when you take a step back, it’s all deeply connected. For us at Atlantic Packaging, protecting public lands means protecting the ecosystems and experiences that our customers, and their customers, depend on.

What are public lands?

When you hear “public lands,” you might picture a national park and you wouldn’t be wrong. But the reality is much broader. Public lands include national forests, rivers, conservation areas, wildlife refuges, coastlines, and more.

These places are managed by federal agencies like the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management and are held in trust for everyone. That means they exist for the benefit of the public- not private interests.

Public lands are the backdrop to so much of what we love about the outdoors. They’re where adventures begin, stories are shared, and communities connect.

They’re also the foundation of a $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation economy that supports over 5 million jobs, including thousands of businesses we’re proud to work with every day.

And right now, they’re facing growing pressure.

What We Advocated For

While in Washington, we raised concerns about a legislative proposal introduced as part of the federal budget process. The proposal could allow for the sale or transfer of certain public lands outside of existing public review processes- processes that are designed to ensure transparency, accountability, and community involvement.

To be fair, some believe these types of transfers could bring economic opportunities to rural areas. But many others, including those of us connected to outdoor industries, worry that public access could be lost, recreation spaces compromised, and natural habitats disrupted.

We also advocated for full and consistent funding of the agencies responsible for stewarding public lands, like the Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the National Park Service. Without adequate support, even protected lands can become difficult to access. Trails fall into disrepair. Facilities close. Opportunities for outdoor recreation slowly erode.

Lastly, we emphasized the importance of transparency in all decisions related to public lands. These are shared spaces, and decisions about them should be made openly, with input from the communities, businesses, and individuals who rely on them.