Recently, political leaders gathered for the annual Lake Tahoe Summit, celebrating one of Nevada’s most iconic destinations and discussing the importance of sustainability in outdoor recreation. 

It’s a conversation our state urgently needs. Nevada’s burgeoning outdoor economy, which sustains thousands of jobs and generates billions of dollars, depends on preserving magnificent places such as Lake Tahoe. 

But our state now faces a storm of threats that puts this economic activity and Nevada’s most cherished places at risk.

Nevada’s landscapes are more than just beautiful; they’re an economic engine. Whether visitors are attracted to the crystal waters of Lake Tahoe, the red cliffs of Red Rock Canyon or the wide-open desert skies of Great Basin, they flock to our state to hike, ski, paddle and stargaze. They also fill hotel rooms, hire guides, eat in local restaurants and shop at small businesses. 

Outdoor recreation, ranging from hiking to hunting, directly supports nearly 60,000 Nevada jobs and generates more than $8.1 billion in economic activity every year, sustaining communities across our state. And its growth is explosive: Outdoor recreation’s share of gross domestic product grew by 12.8 percent 2022-23, and our job growth in the sector is No. 2 in the country, second only to Alaska.

All of this was hard-won. After the 2008 financial crash, cities such as Reno have worked tirelessly to diversify their economies away from principally gaming and mining to emphasize sectors such as outdoor recreation, putting Nevada on the map as an adventure destination. 

These efforts have slowly shifted our reputation among travelers and newcomers from one of rough-and-tumble gambling towns to vibrant, welcoming destinations with unparalleled access to world-class outdoor recreation. From the Division of Outdoor Recreation’s site: “It’s clear from the latest data that outdoor recreation is a major economic driver for our state, creating local jobs and contributing to the quality of life for everyone who lives and works here.” 

The good news is spreading: In December, Reno again topped Outside Magazine’s list of “The 15 Happiest Places to Live in the U.S.,” whose methodology included, of course, access to public land. This benefits everyone. As the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada frequently emphasizes, being seen as an outdoor paradise also attracts workers in other sectors such as tech and manufacturing, increasing revenue and gross domestic product (GDP) in a positive cycle and buffering our economy from economic shocks like the 2008 crash. 

Las Vegas, which remains less diversified, is demonstrating a stark reminder of the risks of an economy dependent on gaming: The city is now suffering as international visitation plunges, forcing casinos to scale back operations and lay off workers.

But this year, Nevada’s great outdoors are under pressure from many sides. In May, Rep. Mark Amodei (R-NV), Nevada’s representative for Lake Tahoe, filed an amendment to House Republicans’ reconciliation package directing the secretary of the Interior to identify and dispose of hundreds of thousands of acres of federal land in Nevada (violating several locally negotiated public lands frameworks), including some of our most popular and traversed trails. 

The areas are not just lone tracts in the desert; they include beloved Kiva Beach, Fallen Leaf Lake, Emerald Bay, the Tallac Historic Site and even ski resorts, such as Alpine Meadows and Heavenly Valley, leasing land from the U.S. Forest Service. This action bypassed local consultation, public input, environmental review, revenue reinvestment and regional governance, and was done in the dead of night. Worse yet, the funds raised would be whisked away to the federal treasury instead of staying in Nevada.

Auctioning off public lands to private interests without appraisal would tear away the very spaces that attract visitors, sustain small businesses and define our outdoor heritage. It would be not only an attack on our sacred natural patrimony, but a deeply foolhardy economic decision. Liquidating public lands to cover a budget shortfall outside of Nevada undermines their preservation for our local outdoor economy and the wider economy.

There are more challenges: Tourism is down. Nevada’s economy depends on visitors. Their spending accounted for more than 40 percent of our state GDP as of 2024. 

But as many have noticed, international visitation to Nevada has plummeted this year, and the small businesses that serve outdoor travelers — gear makers, guides, outfitters, lodges, hotels and restaurants — are feeling the slowdown. For communities that rely on tourism to survive, even a modest dip in visitation can mean harder seasons, thinner margins and lost jobs. This means fewer dollars circulating and a drag on our communities across the board.

Compounding matters, there have been recent federal cuts to park budgets, worsening already chronic underfunding and understaffing of our public lands. Rep. Amodei has voted repeatedly for cuts that defund park rangers and wildland firefighters working to protect our landscapes, just as demand for outdoor recreation is rising.

Implementing shortsighted budget cuts and land selloffs in the middle of a positive transformation of booming growth in the outdoor economy will erode the facilities, trails and programs that visitors expect, just as we are getting traction in the sector. This is anti-growth and anti-progress. 

Nevada’s thriving outdoor economy depends on healthy public lands, vibrant tourism and smart policy decisions that put long-term prosperity ahead of short-term politics. Selling off land, underfunding our parks and pushing visitors away is not just bad business, it’s unsustainable for our outdoor spaces and the people who depend on them for their livelihood. We must formulate a wiser approach as attacks continue, such as the Department of Agriculture possibly repealing the roadless rule, which will open pristine areas to logging, fires and wildlife habitat fragmentation. (Nevada’s national forests contain 3.18 million acres of roadless areas, such as the Inyo, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and Lake Tahoe Basin.)

The Tahoe Summit and efforts to protect the lake show that safeguarding public lands isn’t a partisan issue. These landscapes are the lifeblood of Nevada’s outdoor economy, an attractor for other sectors and a promise to every visitor that they will be welcomed here to experience something extraordinary. 

As outdoor business owners, we are doing our part to create jobs, welcome travelers and promote the wild beauty of our state. But we need our leaders to stand up to political pressure and do their part as well: Loudly and bravely take a stand to protect the lands that sustain us, reject land sell-offs and invest in the future of outdoor recreation and tourism. Nevada’s future depends on it. 

Jessica Thompson is a sustainability expert, serial entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Yogo, a green travel yoga goods company based in Reno.