Santa Fe, NM – The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department’s (EMNRD) State Parks Division announces the publication of the2021-2026 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). The SCORP was developed with the thoughtful input of local, state, and federal agencies, outdoor recreation businesses, non-profit organizations, and interested public citizens.
The SCORP provides recommendations to guide outdoor recreation providers in achieving a common vision for outdoor resources in New Mexico and identifies the economic contributions of outdoor recreation to the state and the nation. The SCORP is updated every five years. These updates are a federal requirement for the state and allow New Mexico to continue to receive federal funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
“Not only does the SCORP open the door to millions of dollars of federal money for New Mexico, it highlights the importance of outdoor recreation as an enjoyable economic and cultural resource” said EMNRD Cabinet Secretary Sarah Cottrell Propst. “New Mexico is blessed with incredible outdoor recreation opportunities and the SCORP demonstrates the potential for economic growth in this sector.”
The 2021-2026 SCORP includes:
· State and national outdoor recreation trends and corresponding economicimpacts;
· An inventory of the state’s outdoor recreation resources and guidance on how best to protect them;
· A vision for better integration of outdoor education into the state’s recreation opportunities; and
· A listing of the state’s priorities for awarding federal funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to local communities.
To learn more about the SCORP and to download a copy of the final report, go tohttps://www.emnrd.nm.gov/spd/statewide-comprehensive-outdoor-recreation-plan-scorp/.
