The purpose of the National Recreation Area designation is to provide protected landscapes where recreation opportunities are abundant and well managed. Recreation has become the most important use of the public lands. Outdoor recreation on our public lands can be a very positive influence on society. It improves and builds human health, connects people to Nature, and inspires spirituality. The quality of outdoor recreation is diminished by most development.
Few people seek logging clearcuts as a place to hike, ride or drive.
Recreationists prefer more natural settings. Recreation also can have severe impacts on land, wildlife and water, especially when the use is poorly managed. NRA designation would mandate and empower better management to avoid such impacts. NRA's, if properly legislated, can protect broad landscapes while allowing recreational uses which would not be appropriate in Wilderness. They can expand the tools available for resource and land conservation, and also diversify the constituencies of people supporting better land protection and management.