National Park Service Director Jarvis and Administration Officials Conduct America's Great Outdoors Listening Session in Seattle

SEATTLE, WA — National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis today joined senior officials from the US Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency to host a public listening session on how to conserve the natural landscape of the Pacific Northwest and encourage more people to enjoy the region's many outdoor recreational opportunities.

The listening session was one of a series the Obama Administration is conducting as part of President Obama's America's Great Outdoors Initiative to develop a conservation agenda worthy of the 21st century and to reconnect Americans with the great outdoors.

“The Pacific Northwest is one of America's most beautiful areas and one of its great treasures,” Jarvis said. “If we are to conserve the beauty and health of this region and encourage more people to get outdoors and enjoy it, we must work in partnership with communities and local citizens who are already engaged in this important work. We want to hear their ideas and we want to support them in their efforts.”

Director Jarvis was joined by Environmental Protection Agency Assistant Administrator for Water Pete Silva and Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Jay Jensen from the US Department of Agriculture.

"From the Puget Sound to the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, the restoration projects underway here in the Pacific Northwest represent a shining example of the work that the American's Great Outdoors Initiative seeks to accomplish," said EPA Assistant Administrator Peter Silva. "Together, all levels of government must work with the community - those who know the land best - to continue these projects and additional efforts to preserve the Pacific Northwest and all of America so we will leave a cleaner, greener land for our children and grandchildren."

“Public and private conservation and natural resource stewardship are integral to the history, culture, and prosperity of the Pacific Northwest,” said USDA Deputy Under Secretary Jensen. “We look forward to hearing in greater detail the hard work happening in the area, because regional and local conservation history will be key as we chart a 21st century conservation agenda.”

President Obama inaugurated the America's Great Outdoors Initiative at a White House Conference held at the Department of the Interior in April. The conference brought together leaders from communities across the country that are working to protect their outdoor spaces and focused on developing and supporting innovative ideas for improving conservation and recreation at the local level.

Under the initiative, the Administration is reaching out to communities across the country to hear good ideas about conservation and to learn about the efforts that ordinary Americans are making to conserve our land, water and wildlife.

For more information on the America's Great Outdoors Initiative, please visit: www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors.