As a part of the Into Nature Sale (May 15 – May 25), Astral will donate 5% of sales to organizations that are working to protect soil and water. This year, we are partnering with Outdoor Alliance.
Outdoor Alliance has been leading the charge to protect public lands by harnessing the power of recreationalists like paddlers and hikers. We asked Tania Lown-Hecht, Vice President of Communications and Strategy for Outdoor Alliance, about the organization and her work there.
ASTRAL // Tell us some more about your roots. How’d you get into advocacy work?
I grew up in California where I spent summers backpacking, hiking, and exploring the Sierra Nevada mountains. The outdoors have always been a huge part of my life–I was diagnosed with cancer at age 16 and I’ve always thought a big part of my survival was just about my drive to get back into the mountains. I feel I owe them a huge part of my life and my recovery. I worked for some years at a childhood cancer research nonprofit, and made the move to Outdoor Alliance in 2014, where I’ve been ever since working to help protect public lands and waters and the outdoor experiences they enable.
ASTRAL // Share a bit about Outdoor Alliance. What work do you do?
Outdoor Alliance is a coalition of nine human-powered outdoor recreation organizations and we work together to protect the outdoor experiences and conserve America’s public lands and waters. We engage outdoor enthusiasts in accessible conservation advocacy by breaking down complex policy issues and providing tools to take action and protect public lands. Over more than ten years, we’ve been enormously successful in that work– permanently protecting 40 million acres of public land as well as defending against public land selloffs, securing $5.1 billion in funding for the outdoors, and converting more than 350,000 outdoor enthusiasts into outdoor advocates.
ASTRAL // What are the primary concerns Outdoor Alliance is working on right now?
Right now, Outdoor Alliance is working to save public lands–ensuring public lands stay in public hands where they are accessible, sustainable, protected for years to come. This year, we’ve seen more schemes to sell off public lands than ever before, and have been engaging the outdoor community in defending the outdoors. This includes work like defending the Roadless Rule and its protection for 45 million acres of our National Forest land.
We are also working to protect public land management agencies, ensuring they have the funding, staff, and resources they need to care for outdoor places.
ASTRAL // Share something good that’s happened in conservation recently.
Recently, both the House and the Senate have started bipartisan caucuses to support public lands (a caucus is group of lawmakers who meet with shared policy goals). The House caucus was especially helpful in defending against some of the more troubling public land sell off ideas over the summer. There is a lot of energy in Congress around protecting the outdoors and outdoor recreation, especially after the EXPLORE Act was signed into law last year–a historic piece of legislation that will improve outdoor recreation on public lands and waters. Even though there are plenty of bad ideas and threats to the outdoors, there is also growing support for the outdoors and public lands and waters among lawmakers.
ASTRAL // How can an everyday, regular human help?
Advocacy can seem so intimidating, but the small steps really make such a huge difference! Try to write or call your lawmakers about the issues you care about once a month. Organizations like Outdoor Alliance make it really–you can follow the current issues on our action center (https://outdooralliance.org/take-action) and we’ve made it really easy to send messages to your lawmakers about the issues you care about.
Making a phone call or writing a letter seems like a small thing but elected officials care about what their constituents think and you’d be surprised what a huge difference it can make.
ASTRAL // What does a day in your life look like?
On a typical work day, I’m writing blog posts about what’s happening in D.C. and building out action alerts so that people can get involved in advocacy and make a difference. I’m also working with Outdoor Alliance’s really fantastic small team to make sure we are tracking all the important issues, responding to them, and helping more people who love the outdoors get involved.
ASTRAL // What is your favorite place to be in Nature?
I live in Portland, Oregon now with my husband and two kids, and looking forward to getting out on our cross-country skis this winter. I’ve always been a huge summer person but the last few years, I’ve gotten really into the snow-covered evergreens and the quiet of getting out on skis with my kids.
ASTRAL // Who or what are you most inspired by?
I am most inspired to protect the places I love for my children and all future generations.
ASTRAL // What’s your favorite song these days?
I have recently been listening to Maggie Rogers’s “Dog Years” on repeat!