Conservation Tools

In 2006, amongst U.S. residents, age 16 and older, 87.5 million people participated in at least one wildlife related recreation activity: 30 million fished, 12.5 million hunted, and 71.1 million participated in at least one type of wildlife-watching activity. Of 6-to-15-year-olds, 1.6 million hunted, 8.3 million fished, and 12 million wildlife watched. Together these individuals spent $122.3 billion on their activities, which equated to 1 percent of the Gross Domestic Product.

In 2011, amongst U.S. residents ages 16 and older, 90.1 million people participated in at least one wildlife related recreation activity: 33.1 million fished, 13.7 million hunted, and 71.8 million participated in at least one type of wildlife-watching activity. Of 6-to-15-year-olds, 1.8 million hunted, 8.5 million fished, and 11.7 million wildlife watched. Together these individuals spent $122.3 billion on their activities, which equated to 1 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product.

State Heritage Areas are large geographic regions or corridors of the Commonwealth that span two or more counties and contain a multitude of historic, recreational, natural and scenic resources of state and national significance that collectively exemplify the heritage of Pennsylvania. In 2008, visitors to 8 of 12 heritage areas, both from Pennsylvania and out of state tourists, generated an estimated $255.8 million in direct sales, which supported 4,372 jobs.

This guide provides a variety of resources and ideas to establish local ecotourism. Use it to enhance the economy while identifying, teaching, sharing, and preserving unique natural areas that make communities special.

In Pennsylvania, sprawling development consumes 350 acres per day and that pace may be accelerating. The sights, sounds, smells and experiences that distinguish rural Pennsylvania and bring Pennsylvanians outside to hunt, fish, and wildlife watch are being lost forever. The report suggests five recommendations to preserve Pennsylvania outdoor heritage, maintain the economic value of wildlife-linked recreation, and sustain rural economies that depend on forests, farms, and outdoor tourism.

Between 2000 and 2003, hunters, fishers and wildlife watchers traveling to U.S. Forest Service (USFS) managed lands specifically for those activities spent $1.7 billion within 50 miles of the USFS unit. As these expenditures were spent and re-spent by businesses, additional economic impacts were created for state and national economies and supported 42,342 jobs and $194.0 million in annual federal income tax receipts.

Revenues from an excise tax on most fishing, hunting, and shooting-sports equipment is used for the maintenance and enhancement of America’s fish and wildlife populations. Abundant, sustainable fish and wildlife populations yield abundant and diverse hunting and fishing opportunities, which leads to more purchases of hunting, fishing, and target shooting equipment. This tax shows how investing in conservation and rehabilitation projects that benefit game species, as well as nongame species, brings significant economic returns.