Editor:

On Saturday, Sen. Bennet, Gov. Hickenlooper, and Colorado residents gathered in Buena Vista to celebrate President Obama’s recent commitment to protecting America’s public lands through his designation of Browns Canyon as a national monument.

Browns Canyon National Monument, a favorite spot of many Coloradans, is one of the most popular whitewater rafting destinations, drawing tourists from across the world. It is a beautiful place for hiking, backpacking, hunting, fishing, snowshoeing, birding, climbing and horseback riding.

Not only is Browns Canyon an ideal spot to spend an afternoon with family and friends, the area is a prime example of how the expansion of recreational opportunities can spur the growth and culture of entrepreneurial, job-creating companies in Colorado and across the United States. With outdoor recreation as a draw, Colorado can attract the best and brightest employees.

With skilled employees, companies will be more likely to attract the financing they need at various stages of growth, which will allow them to hire even more employees to help them grow. As the cycle continues, protecting Browns Canyon, through its designation as a national monument, will fuel more innovation in Colorado. The resulting ripple effect from this new national monument will drive economic growth and expand the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain West.

As an entrepreneur and a Colorado resident, I’ve seen firsthand that conserving America’s Great Outdoors is critical to our innovation economy and to the bottom line of our businesses. Conservation is not a red issue, blue issue, or even green issue; it is an American issue. Our public lands are the embodiment of our nation’s entrepreneurial spirit. By protecting them, we are helping to preserve our heritage for future generations.

Carol RealiniDurango