The Department of Agriculture announced today the Obama administration is highlighting the success of President Barack Obama's America's Great Outdoors Initiative through this year's progress report.
* Success of the AGO is being highlighted in the 2011 America's Great Outdoors Progress Report.
* The report details the recreation and conservation successes of 15 federal agencies, including the Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Interior.
* Under the AGO, the USDA has awarded $100 million in landowner agreements to help fund wetland restoration and conservation of private agricultural land totally 24,000 acres.
* The EPA has announced $30 million for projects that are helping restore and improve the environmental quality of the Great Lakes.
* EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson commented: "Through this initiative, we're reconnecting Americans with the great outdoors and helping to put local residents to work cleaning up the areas that they cherish. In preserving their environment, Americans are creating healthier, more vibrant communities today and ensuring lasting prosperity for future generations."
* The DOI collaborated with the Army Corps of Engineers to create 650 more miles of trails across 17 states.
* The initiative has not only had major environmental successes, but it has also been beneficial to the U.S. economy.
* The Outdoor Industry Association has estimated that recreation in the country contributes to $730 billion to the nation's economy, supports over 6 million jobs and generates $289 billion in retail and service.
* Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack commented, "AGO is not only protecting our environment, it's creating jobs. We're working with farmers and ranchers to conserve working agricultural lands; we're restoring our forests in ways that create jobs in recreation and forest products; and we're creating employment opportunities for young adults, veterans and others on our National Forests."
* President Obama launched the AGO in April 2010 as a way to increase conservation efforts throughout the country by involving the federal government, the private sector, community organizations, local governments, and individuals.
* According to Yahoo! News, in June the Obama administration announced it had created a council, known as the Federal Interagency Council on Outdoor Recreation to plan additional conservation efforts and promote the AGO initiative.
* Additionally, FICOR resulted from the signing of a memorandum of understand between numerous federal agencies as a way to strengthen the AGO and its goals.
* More information about AGO, including the outlined goals of the initiative, and 2011 America's Great Outdoors Progress Report released today is available through the official White House AGO website.
Rachel Bogart provides an in-depth look at current environmental issues and local Chicago news stories. As a college student from the Chicago suburbs pursuing two science degrees, she applies her knowledge and passion to both topics to garner further public awareness.
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