April 9, 2025 New business coalition pushes back on public land threats

More than 60 companies, from gearmakers to media and tourism, have joined the new coalition Brands for Public Lands to advocate for U.S. public lands. Led by The Conservation Alliance, the effort signals a growing business response to protect key landscapes from development.

Right now, America’s public lands are at risk of being sold, defunded, or developed—and businesses are speaking up. Over 60 companies have joined forces to emphasize that the protection of these landscapes is essential to individuals, communities, and the economy. The Conservation Alliance is leading this effort through the newly formed Brands for Public Lands, a coalition committed to defending public lands in partnership with nonprofits and other businesses.

While local organizations, Tribal groups, and NGOs have actively supported public lands protections in recent months—demonstrating their broad value across political, demographic, and geographic lines—the business sector has largely remained on the sidelines. Until now.

Businesses mobilize to protect at-risk public lands

Public lands significantly contribute to the U.S. economy. The Bureau of Land Management reported 82 million visits to BLM-managed lands in fiscal year 2023, generating over $10 billion in local economic activity. These lands are central to a $1.2 trillion outdoor economy that supports roughly 5 million jobs. The coalition warns that improperly regulated drilling, mining, and other industrial developments could threaten these benefits. Businesses, especially those dependent on outdoor access, are beginning to assert their role in defending these spaces.

“The businesses who have joined Brands for Public Lands know that our nation’s natural resources are invaluable, not for extracting what lies deep beneath their surface, but for the vitality they provide to so many of us in their protected state,” says Paul Hendricks, Executive Director of The Conservation Alliance.

“Threats to public lands are threats to the natural and cultural resources they protect, the millions of jobs and thousands of businesses they support, and the myriad communities they sustain.”

Coalition launches action with a clear agenda

Brands for Public Lands includes companies headquartered in 17 states, representing industries from outdoor gear and apparel to media, tourism, and retail. Collectively, these companies employ over 48,000 people and generate more than $17.5 billion in annual revenue. The coalition’s priorities include stopping the sale of public lands, defending National Monuments, and protecting wilderness areas from industrial extraction. Each member has committed to tangible actions such as consumer outreach, direct lobbying, and leveraging brand visibility to influence policy.

The group made its first move by delivering two letters to policymakers in Washington. One, signed by 45 companies, urged Congressional leaders not to fund budget cuts through public land sales. The other, signed by 48 companies, was sent to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, requesting that the administration honor public input processes in land management decisions.

Supporting voices across the coalition echoed the urgency:

“Our public lands are more than assets on a balance sheet,” said Ryan Gellert, CEO of Patagonia.

“They are where we connect with nature and they serve as economic drivers for local communities, the $1.2 trillion outdoor industry and the 5 million people who work within it. Patagonia stands with the dozens of like minded businesses and organizations protecting public lands before they’re lost forever.”

Neil Fiske, CEO of Black Diamond Equipment, added:

“A priceless and irreplaceable resource that can’t be reduced to a line item on a balance sheet, our public lands are intrinsically tied to the life-defining pursuits of climbing, skiing and mountain sports that our company was built to serve. We are proud to stand with brands and public lands users of all types in opposition to these short-sighted proposals.”

Photo: Dani Vernon