Shakespeare once wrote, “One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.”  And in this era in which jobs and the economy dominate the conversation, it’s important to remember the connection that nature fosters not only between us and our surroundings but also with one another.

But even when one focuses on the dollars and cents, wildlife-related recreational activities play a significant role in our economy as well as our daily lives.  In fact, according to a 2011 survey conducted by the Department of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, 90.1 million U.S. residents 16+ years of age (that’s 38 percent) participated in these recreational activities.  Not only that, these recreationists spent over $145 billion on equipment, trips, and other related expenditures.  There are some great findings from the FWS’s survey, which you can find in this infographic on the impact of widlife-related activities.

Further, at a time when private landowners and organizations can choose from an array of public and private sources of funding for such outdoors activities, opportunities abound for protecting the lands and ecosystems that enable us to connect with nature.  To learn more, check out our past articles on Investing in Your Legacy.

Photo credit: William H. Majoros