The Outside Las Vegas Foundation (OLVF) is a private non-profit organization dedicated to caring for the 7 million acres of federal public lands surrounding Las Vegas. The goal of the organization is to enhance the quality of life in Southern Nevada by enriching the outdoor experience for local residents as well as visitors. Spectacular natural lands – ranging from lush forested Alpine environment to dry desert landscapes – surround Las Vegas, forming the most unique setting of any large urban area in North America. This immense area includes Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and an additional 3 million acres of public lands. Some 1,000 species of plants, 400 species of birds, 142 species of mammals, 54 species of reptiles and 41 species of fish are found in this region.
More than 16 million visitors annually enjoy the unique and awesome vistas and natural landscape surrounding Las Vegas. OLVF believes a direct relationship exists between quality of life issues for Las Vegas residents and the health of the federal parklands surrounding the city, and that the well-being of the wilderness will grow in significance as people look for places to reconnect to nature and reduce the pressures of urban living. “The special places on the federal public lands surrounding Las Vegas will become even more important as time goes by,” said OLVF Executive Director Alan O’Neill. “Not only do they serve as important outlets for recreation, they increasingly serve needs for solace, spiritual renewal and stability. [Wilderness] gives us a connection we can’t get elsewhere.”
The federal ands are also important financially to the Southern Nevada economy. A recently published study by the Outdoor Industry Association detailed that nearly 8 million Las Vegas visitors – 22 percent of the visitors to Las Vegas during 2001 – spent time hiking, boating and enjoying the natural wonders that surround the city. Those visits added an extra $1.5 billion to the local economy and had visitors staying nearly two days longer in Las Vegas-area hotels.
“We can’t expect government alone to be stewards and caretakers of our priceless natural and cultural heritage – this is a shared responsibility of us all,” stated O’Neill. “Everyday citizens need to take a greater sense of ownership and involvement in this process if these areas are to be passed on in good shape to those generations that follow. The OLVF was created to help establish a community of caretakers who would protect, preserve and care for those precious places.”
The core group of partners in the foundation include four federal land management agencies: the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The foundation’s board of trustees is made up of business and community leaders as well as private citizens.
OLVF projects include: developing environmental education programs; implementing public awareness and anti-litter campaigns; improving public-use facilities and services on federal lands; restoring native plant and animal habitats; protecting natural, historical and archeological sites; creating new trails; and increasing recruitment and training volunteers. The foundation is spearheading a movement to acquire privately held lands at the edge of wilderness areas to serve as a buffer to keep the fast-growing city from intruding into the delicate ecosystem on its borders.
Outside Las Vegas Foundation
2252 Morning Mesa Avenue
Henderson, NV 89052
(702) 461-6162
www.outsidelasvegas.org