Wildlife investments boost economy, jobs

When agencies and nonprofits spend money to restore wildlife and open land for the public, the payoff reaches far beyond the woods and wetlands—it also boosts state economies.

A new economic analysis from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation calculated the direct spending on conservation, restoration, and management of fish and wildlife across all 50 states, as well as the derived economic benefits. The economic analysis included funds directly spent on conservation by nonprofits and federal, state and local agencies, including land purchases to protect habitat, habitat restoration and efforts to maintain public access for hunting, fishing and wildlife viewing. National spending estimates came from government reports. The analysis estimated state-level spending by allocating federal and nonprofit investments across states based on conservation program spending. The model determined the economic ripple effects of that spending; it determined how many jobs were supported, how much it added to the nation’s gross domestic product, and the tax revenue it generated for federal, state and local governments.

Overall, the findings show that conservation dollars are hard at work. The $55.3 billion invested directly in fish and wildlife efforts generated $115.8 billion in total economic activity. That spending supported more than 575,000 jobs, put $48.8 billion into people’s pockets, added $76.6 billion to the U.S. economy, and returned $16.3 billion in tax revenue. The economic analysis did not include indirect effects such as cleaner water, ecosystem services or healthier ecosystems. The findings highlight that investing in nature pays off.

Read more in the Conservation Economy report.