Colin Robertson, head of the state’s Division of Outdoor Recreation, called for more federal funding for land management along with investment in rural communities to help better manage resources stressed by the pandemic, which drove more campers to remote areas even as jobs decreased in outdoor recreation.

The House approved a far-reaching voting rights measure as the Senate considered the House-passed $1.9 trillion COVID aid package, including boosting funding for communities suffering from the loss of jobs in the travel and tourism sector to $750 million from the $450 million provided in the House bill.

The low levels of diversity in outdoor recreation have spurred the creation of various organizations focused on promoting a more inclusive image of outdoor activity and make outdoor spaces more accessible to all. The Legislature also stepped in this year, creating a new Outdoor Recreation Division that will work to increase access to Nevada’s open spaces for community members who may have trouble getting outdoors comfortably.