As we approach the holiday season and year’s end, and wonder how 2007 will shape up for our businesses, it is a good time to consider not only what you can do to positively impact your business performance next year, but also what you can do over the long haul.

An important item to consider is getting yourself, your employees and your business more involved in protecting and preserving paddling resources and natural wilderness areas. The simple logic is that by responsibly creating and setting aside considerable chunks of natural wilderness areas, more human powered outdoor recreation opportunities become available along with better quality outdoor experiences for consumers of our products and services. With more natural outdoors to paddle, hike, climb, fish, camp, ski, view wildlife, and enjoy, more outdoor equipment gets used. More responsible usage leads to more outdoor equipment purchasing activity and more sales over time. And those communities and businesses nearby wilderness areas benefit economically and in many ways beyond the minimal value that extractive industries offer.

This clearly represents upside for paddlesports and the human powered outdoor recreation industry. There is a bottom line business benefit on top of a host of other benefits. Yet in the hustle of day-to-day operations, there can be a tendency to put off getting more involved in these efforts. Meanwhile, forces in play are working against protecting and preserving these U.S. National Forest wilderness areas for human powered outdoor recreation. They threaten the habitat and natural outdoor treasures too many have come to take for granted. They also threaten the long-term health of our businesses and our ability to pass these national treasures on to our children, and to their children.

A bright note is that ongoing efforts to conserve & protect wilderness areas are paying dividends. An outstanding example is the pending creation here in Washington of the 100,000-plus acre Wild Sky Wilderness area. The goal is to preserve this spectacular land and water in its original form for recreational and viewing opportunities. Rather than the usual remote high elevation areas designated for protection, this rugged and truly wild landscape is within close proximity to the greater Puget Sound area. Mostly roadless, this critical wildlife habitat includes lush lowland forested areas and high alpine peaks, pristine rivers and lakes, salmon & trout bearing streams, breathtaking waterfalls, and a diverse offering of world-class paddling and recreational opportunities.

The plan to federally protect the spectacular Skykomish River Valley area is close to becoming a reality, pending final congressional approval. Many hurdles have been crossed. Rather than getting bogged down in sparing matches between extreme factions from the far left and far right, organizers and backers took the rare step of being balanced and inclusive in their planning. They carefully included the voices and concerns of environmentalists, landowners, timber interests, and other groups & businesses with a stake in protecting traditional and historic uses. Accommodations have been made and even many conservative Western Republicans normally opposed to federally protected wilderness areas are either supporting the bill in Congress or allowing it to move forward. It is hoped that the bill will be approved by year's end.

Not all backcountry recreation conservation and access efforts are this grand or involved. There are many ways big and small that you and your businesses can have a positive impact in addition to making your annual donations. The number of worthy programs is too numerous to mention here, but you need to be proactive and get involved. Free up a day for your employees to help with a river clean up or water trail project. Get online and educate yourself and your staff about the efforts of American Whitewater, American Rivers, and North American Water trails. Find out what the Outdoor Industry Association’s Business for Wilderness program is all about.

We must protect and preserve our vital assets now. If not, the price of indifference and inaction will be too steep tomorrow.

• Glen Bernard

www.glenbernard.net