Americans Spent $38 Billion In 2001 Watching Wildlife
Some 66 million American spent more than $38 billion in 2001 observing, feeding and photographing wildlife, according to a new economic report released Wednesday by the Department of Interior’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The report, titled “The 2001 National and State Economic Impacts of Wildlife Watching Addendum,” examines national participation in wildlife watching, associated expenditures and the economic activity they generate, employment created and income associated with expenditures, and associated state and federal tax revenue.
It finds that for each $1 of direct spending associated with wildlife watching, an additional $1.49 of economic activity was generated.
The agency considered direct expenditures by wildlife watchers, for items such as cameras, binoculars and bird food, and for trip related expenses such as lodging, transportation and food.
The total industrial output of $95.8 billion resulted in 1,027,833 full and part time jobs with total wages and salaries of $27.8 billion, the report finds.
Wildlife watching expenditures generated a total state sales tax revenue of $2.1 billion, a total state income tax revenue of $712 million, and a total federal individual income tax revenue of $3.3 billion.
“Many Americans enjoy watching wildlife, however we often overlook the positive impact these activities have on state and local economies,” said Fish and Wildlife Service Director Steve Williams.
The report relied on data collected in the Fish and Wildlife Service’s “2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife Associated Recreation.”
Only participants whose principal motivation for the trip, activity or expenditure is wildlife related were counted by the agency for its study.
Residential participants include those whose activities are within one mile of home and nonresidential participants refers to people who take trips or outings of at least one mile.
The survey did not include trips to zoos, circuses, aquariums, museums, or for scouting game.
Provided by theEnvironmental News Service.
