State summits collect valuable input for implementing BLM’s Recreation Blueprint

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently completed four state-level summits designed to inform how it manages recreation on public lands. These sessions marked the next step in implementing the Blueprint for 21st Century Outdoor Recreation, released in August 2023.

Held in Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, and Alaska between July and October, these working sessions provided a forum for stakeholders to discuss outdoor recreation challenges and opportunities on BLM-managed lands in their states.

Each day-long summit had between 45-75 attendees representing a diverse group of recreation-related interests, including partner organizations, state and local governments, tourism leaders, local interest groups, and local chapters of national interest groups. The sessions were run by BLM Recreation Program staff in each state with National Park Service facilitators and support from the Foundation for America’s Public Lands. BLM national and state leaders also participated in the sessions, underscoring the importance of working with partners to effectively implement the Blueprint.

“The state recreation summits have been extremely valuable for the BLM, and we hope for attendees as well,” said Kevin Oliver, division chief for BLM’s national Recreation Program. “At each summit, we received robust and thoughtful input and feedback, complementing BLM’s initial thinking on how best to move forward to deliver exceptional and one-of-a-kind recreational experiences.”

Issues discussed varied by state based on unique situations and concerns, from improving maintenance and development of recreation infrastructure and ensuring recreation fees are fair and equitable to emphasizing the critical importance of BLM recreation to local economies. In all cases, there was recognition of the need to meet growing demand as well as the challenge of securing more resources and leveraging partnerships to better manage recreation on public lands into the future.

From the BLM’s perspective, the state recreation summits were an important step toward working through the challenges together.

“We are so grateful for the time and energy the attendees gave to these events,” said Oliver. “The participation and collaborative spirit throughout will go a long way toward helping us refine our recreation planning and develop projects that can make a positive difference on the ground.”

The Blueprint for 21^st Century Outdoor Recreation will guide BLM decisions to proactively meet modern demands for exceptional and unique outdoor experiences on public lands. Published in 2023, the Blueprint is not a formal management plan but rather a strategic document to guide the agency’s recreation management efforts into the future.

Once feedback from the state recreation summits has been considered and incorporated into proposed state-level Blueprint implementation plans, the BLM will share them with the public for continued refinement. In the meantime, the BLM plans to hold recreation summits for additional states (to include BLM Arizona, California, Colorado, Eastern States, Idaho, Montana/Dakotas, and Wyoming) throughout 2025, and will announce more details as they become available.