>>> NOW TO THE FIGHT TO SAVE AMERICA'S GREEN SPACES.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS AXING KEY FEDERAL PROJECTS, AND FEARS ARE GROWING THE PUBLIC LANDS, INCLUDING ICONIC AREAS OF NATURAL BEAUTY, COULD BE DEVASTATED.

IN A CONVERSATION WITH WALTER ISAACSON, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND EXPLAINS HOW THESE SWEEPING CUTS WILL IMPACT AMERICA'S PARKS , AND WHY EVERY COMMUNITY NEEDS ACCESS TO THESE GREEN SPACES.

>> THANK YOU, CHRISTIANE, DR. KERRY HAUSER, THE SHOW.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, WALTER.

>> YOU'VE JUST TAKEN OVER THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND.

EVER SINCE TEDDY ROOSEVELT, AMERICANS HAVE ONE THING IN COMMON.

THEY BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE GREAT AND FOR THE PUBLIC, LIKE THE PARKS SYSTEM.

TELL ME WHAT YOUR ORGANIZATION DOES IN WORKING WITH THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND OTHERS?

>> INKS FOR ASKING.

TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND IS A LITTLE OVER 50 YEARS OLD.

WE ARE A LARGE NATIONAL CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION THAT WORKS IN BOTH RURAL AND URBAN COMMUNITIES, WHICH I THINK IS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES TPO FAIRLY UNIQUE.

THE OTHER THING THAT MAKES US UNIQUE AS A LOT OF OTHER LAND TRUSTS AND CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS WILL OFTEN WORK TO PRESERVE LANDS AND LANDSCAPES FOR THE BENEFIT OF HABITAT AND ECOSYSTEMS, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT MAKES TPO UNIQUE IS THAT OUR ENTIRE MISSION IS MAKING SURE THAT WE CONNECT PEOPLE TO THOSE OUTDOOR PLACES, FOR ALL THE HEALTH BENEFITS, THE MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS, AND OBVIOUSLY THE ONGOING CONSERVATION.

IF YOU CONNECT PEOPLE TO THOSE OUTDOOR SPACES, HOPEFULLY THEY ALSO BECOME CONSERVATIONISTS.

THEY CARE ABOUT THOSE PLACES AND THEY WILL PROTECT THEM.

>> WHEN YOU SAY ABOUT CONNECTING PEOPLE, ONE OF THE THINGS YOU TOLD ME THAT IS ON YOUR WEBSITE, IS THE ONE OF EVERY THREE AMERICANS DOES NOT HAVE AN EASY ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS.

>> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

TPL ALSO HAS A PROGRAM CALLED THE 10 MINUTE WALK, AND OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT NO AMERICAN IS FARTHER THAN A 10 MINUTE WALK FROM A LOCAL PARK, A GREEN SPACE, A NATIONAL PARK, WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE.

AND 100 MILLION AMERICANS ARE STILL FARTHER FROM A 10 MINUTE WALK.

THAT ALSO INCLUDES 28 MILLION CHILDREN.

>> SO THAT MEANS YOU REALLY DO WORK IN URBAN AREAS, NOT JUST IN THE YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK -LIKE AREAS.

>> THAT'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY DREW ME TO THE WORK, THE BALANCE BETWEEN URBAN AND RURAL COMMUNITIES, WHICH, HAVING LIVED IN RURAL COLORADO FOR THE LAST DOZEN OR SO YEARS, I REALLY SEE THAT SORT OF URBAN AND RURAL DIVIDE.

AND IT DOES MAKE SENSE, WHEN YOU SEE BIG NATIONAL LANDSCAPES, LIKE THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND SOME OF THOSE LANDSCAPES THAT YOU REFERRED TO EARLIER, AND THE OUTDOORS CAN MEAN A POCKET PARK IN DETROIT.

FOR A VERY URBAN COMMUNITY.

SOMETIMES THOSE COMMUNITIES DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO OTHER GREEN SPACES.

SO THAT BALANCE HAS REALLY BEEN VERY IMPORTANT, AND IT REALLY, AGAIN, CENTERS AROUND PEOPLE.

>> YOU KNOW, WE ARE SEEING A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND WHAT IT IS DOING.

TELL ME HOW YOU RELATE TO IT, HOW IT AFFECTS YOUR ORGANIZATION, HOW YOU RELATE TO WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DOES ON THESE THINGS.

>> IT DOES, INDEED.

TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND CERTAINLY IS A BENEFICIARY OF FEDERAL GRANTS AND CONTRACTS, AND PERHAPS MORE, WALTER, IS THAT WE ARE OFTEN A PASS-THROUGH TO SMALLER LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS OR NONPROFITS THAT MIGHT BE BUILDING A LOCAL PARK, MIGHT BE DOING CONSERVATION WORK, WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE.

OFTEN TIMES WE ARE A CONDUIT TO THAT, AND CERTAINLY PARTNER WITH THOSE ORGANIZATIONS.

WE CURRENTLY HAVE ABOUT 100 PROJECTS THAT ARE IN SOME FORM OF LIMBO, GIVEN SOME OF THE PULLBACKS, SOME OF THESE STALLS IN FEDERAL GRANTS.

CERTAINLY OUR CONCERNS AROUND LAYOFFS IN THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, AND IN OTHER PUBLIC LANDS MANAGED ENTITIES.

A COUPLE OF THOSE, JUST AS AN EXAMPLE, WE HAVE A VERY LARGE TRAIL PROJECT OUTSIDE OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.

WE HAVE A SCHOOLYARD PROJECT IN RURAL OREGON.

AND WE HAVE A VERY LARGE WORKING FOREST CONSERVATION PROJECT, MORE THAN 10,000 ACRES IN NORTHERN IDAHO.

THAT IS WORKING FOR US.

SO THOSE ARE JUST A COUPLE OF EXAMPLES OF SOME OF THE PROJECTS THAT ARE VERY LOCAL, AND WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THOSE LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO ACTIVATE THOSE PROJECTS.

THOSE ARE THE ONES AT RISK OF NOT GETTING TO COMPLETION.

>> TELL ME ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY SCHOOLYARDS.

>> WELL, IT'S A FAIRLY EASY AND SIMPLE IDEA.

I MAYBE WOULD EVEN ASK YOU, IF YOU THINK OF A PUBLIC SCHOOLYARD IN THE COUNTRY, WHAT COMES TO MIND?

AND I WOULD SPECULATE IT IS CONCRETE, ASPHALT, AND A CHAIN- LINK FENCE.

AND WE HAVE 90,000 OF THOSE IN THE COUNTRY THAT ARE PUBLIC SCHOOLYARDS.

JUST THINK ABOUT THAT VERY HE IS OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFORM THOSE SCHOOLYARDS IN OUR COUNTRY.

90,000 OF THEM, AND THEY REPRESENT 2 MILLION ACRES IN THE UNITED STATES.

TRUST FOR PUBLIC LANDS COMMUNITY SCHOOLYARDS PROGRAM ESSENTIALLY GOES IN AND TRANSFORMS THOSE SCHOOLYARDS INTO MUCH MORE CLIMATE RESILIENT MATERIAL, THOSE PROJECTS ARE DONE WITH THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN HELPED DESIGN THEM.

THOSE LOCAL COMMUNITIES REALLY ON THOSE PARTICULAR PROJECTS.

AND WE'VE DONE 200 IN NEW YORK CITY ALONE.

>> HOW MUCH OF YOUR MONEY COMES FROM PRIVATE DONATIONS, AND CANNOT MAKE UP FOR THINGS THAT WILL BE SCALED BACK BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT?

>> IT CERTAINLY CAN.

WE ARE PROBABLY IN ABOUT 75% OF OUR BUDGET IS PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY.

WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES AND OTHER PARTS OF OUR COUNTRY THAT ARE AT RISK RIGHT NOW, SO ASKING PRIVATE PHILANTHROPY TO FILL IN THE GAP FOR ALL OF THOSE IS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT.

SO WE ARE CERTAINLY HOPEFUL THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S AND THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION WILL REALLY WRECKING GUYS THAT AMERICANS ACROSS THE BOARD SUPPORT PUBLIC LANDS.

THEY SUPPORT THE OUTDOORS.

POLL AFTER POLL WILL ABSOLUTELY DEMONSTRATE THAT, TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

>> PEOPLE ACROSS THE BOARD SUPPORT IT, DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS, BUT EVEN DONALD TRUMP HAS SUPPORTED IT.

HE SIGNED, WHAT WAS IT, THE GREAT AMERICAN OUT DOOR ACT?

I THINK HE ONCE SAID IT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THING SINCE TEDDY ROOSEVELT.

SO HE SIGNED THAT.

WHAT DID IT DO, AND THINK HE WILL CONTINUE TO CARE ABOUT PUBLIC LANDS?

HE SEEMS TO ACTUALLY BE INTERESTED IN IT.

>> YEAH, THAT WAS SIGNED IN THE ROOSEVELT ROOM IN AUGUST OF 2020.

THAT WAS A BIPARTISAN MEASURE, AND I WOULD SAY IT WAS THE GREATEST GESTURE TOWARDS PUBLIC LANDS AND THE OUTDOORS SINCE TEDDY ROOSEVELT.

IT WAS VERY, VERY SIGNIFICANT.

WHAT IT ESSENTIALLY DID IS IT SEALED IN FUNDING FOR THE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION FUND, WHICH HELPS WITH INFRASTRUCTURE FOR NATIONAL PARKS AND MAKE SURE THAT SO MUCH OF THOSE FUNDS CONTINUE TO HELP SUPPORT SO MANY OF OUR PUBLIC LANDSCAPES AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT GOES INTO THEM.

AND I WOULD SAY FAST FORWARD FOUR YEARS LATER, JUST IN JANUARY, PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED THE EXPLORE ACT, WHICH WAS ALSO BIPARTISAN.

IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY PASSED THE THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

AND THAT ALSO CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE OUTDOORS, CONSERVATION, ALL THE THINGS THAT GO INTO THAT.

AND AGAIN, A VERY SIGNIFICANT GESTURE.

IT WAS ORDERED BY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ACROSS THE BOARD, BIPARTISAN, AND IT GOT ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

IN THE VERY FINAL HOURS OF THE LAST CONGRESS BY CONSENT.

>> DO YOU THINK PRESIDENT TRUMP IS NOW SCALING THIS BACK, OR DO YOU THINK HE MIGHT STILL BE AN ADVOCATE FOR PUBLIC ACCESS TO THE OUTDOORS?

>> IT'S HARD TO TELL.

I CERTAINLY HOPE THAT HE AND THE ADMINISTRATION WILL LISTEN TO THE PUBLIC AROUND THEIR SUPPORT FOR PUBLIC LANDS.

AND JUST THE SIMPLE DOLLARS AND CENTS AROUND IT.

THE OUTDOOR ECONOMY IS A $1.2 TRILLION A YEAR ECONOMIC IMPACT TO OUR COUNTRY.

IT EMPLOYS 5 MILLION JOBS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE ALONE.

THAT IS A $55 BILLION ECONOMIC IMPACT, THAT IS HALF 1 MILLION JOBS.

AND THAT IS NOT EVEN INCLUDE NATIONAL FORESTS, SO THIS IS A HUGE ECONOMIC ENGINE.

IF NOTHING ELSE, SORT OF PROMPT SUPPORT FOR THE OUT DOORS, OUTDOOR RECREATION, AND CERTAINLY FOR CONSERVATION.

THE BASIC ECONOMY.

I WOULD MAYBE GIVE YOU ONE MORE PROOF POINT, AND THAT IS THAT TRUST REPUBLIC LAND, ONE OF THE THINGS WE DO, CENTER OF EXCELLENCE, IS WE HELP LOCAL COMMUNITIES, STATES, TAX ENDORSED GROUPS RUN MEASURES, LOCALLY, TO FUND PARKS, TRAILS, HISTORIC SITES, FLOODPLAIN MITIGATION EFFORTS, AND WE HELP WITH 23 MEASURES IN NOVEMBER, 2024.

IN ALL 23 OF THEM WON.

>> EVEN WITH TRUMP WINNING THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, PEOPLE ARE STILL VOTING FOR THIS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAD FOUR MEASURES IN ORDER WHERE PRESIDENT TRUMP WON IN THE 68, 69, 70% RANGE.

IN THOSE MEASURES ALSO WON 70+ PERCENT.

THEY WERE CLIMATE MITIGATION, FLOOD PREVENTION, TRAIL BUILDING, PARK BUILDING MEASURES, LAKE COUNTY, FLORIDA BEING ONE OF THOSE.

I THINK WHAT IT SAYS IS THAT WHEN YOU WORK WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND WORK WITH LOCAL VOTERS TO DESCRIBE AND TO SORT OF ENGENDER SUPPORT AROUND THOSE MEASURES, THEY GET TO THE BALLOT AND PEOPLE CAN VOTE LOCALLY.

AND THEY VOTE FOR THE OUTDOORS.

NOT ONLY DID THEY VOTE FOR THE OUTDOORS, NATURE, ACCESS TO NATURE, THEY'RE WILLING TO HELP PAY FOR IT.

AND I THINK THERE'S A REALLY IMPORTANT PROOF POINTS THAT I HOPE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS, AND CERTAINLY THE PRESIDENT WILL LISTEN TO.

BECAUSE THIS IS, AGAIN, VERY LOCAL.

A RED COMMUNITY, BLUE COMMUNITY , PURPLE COMMUNITY, THIS IS UNIVERSAL.

THE OUTDOORS AND NATURE IS NOT A CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC.

IT IS ONE OF THE VERY FEW PLACES IN OUR COUNTRY WHERE THERE IS ACTUAL UNITY.

>> YOU SAY IT'S A VERY LOCAL ISSUE.

TELL ME WHY IT SHOULD NOT JUST REFUNDED LOCALLY RATHER THAN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ISSUE?

>> WELL, I WOULD HOPE THAT THERE IS ALWAYS A PARTNERSHIP.

MANY OF THESE LOCAL PROJECTS HAVE A MIX OF FUNDS.

THEY MAY BE LOCAL MAYORS AND CITIES, CERTAINLY, CAN FUND PARKS AND OPEN SPACE.

BUT REMEMBER, HOW MANY, HOW MUCH PUBLIC LAND EXISTS IN OUR COUNTRY?

THIS IS OFTEN A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES, COUNTIES, STATES, AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, TO REALLY, I THINK, HOPEFULLY, CREATE LANDSCAPES AND TRAILS AND RIVER CORRIDORS, CLEAN WATER, CLEAN AIR, ALL THE THINGS THAT COME WITH CONSERVATION FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

>> ONE OF THE ISSUES, OF COURSE, IS WHAT IS SOMETIMES RECEIVED AS A TENSION BETWEEN PRESERVING PUBLIC LANDS AND CONSERVING IT, VERSUS RESOURCE EXTRACTION, I WILL CALL IT.

RATHER IT IS TAKING OUT OIL, LOGGING, AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION NOW SEEMS TO WANT TO DO A LOT MORE LOGGING AND OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION ON PUBLIC LANDS.

CAN YOU MAKE THAT COMPATIBLE, OR IS THAT AN ABSOLUTE CONFLICT?

>> YEAH, I WOULD SAY THAT IT IS A FAIRLY NUANCED QUESTION, AND A FAIRLY NUANCED ANSWER.

AND I THINK I WOULD, AGAIN, SAY IT DEPENDS ON WHETHER OR NOT LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND PLACES WHERE THAT ACTIVITY MIGHT OCCUR ARE INVOLVED IN THOSE ACTIVITIES.

I LIVE IN COLORADO, WESTERN COLORADO.

THAT IS 80% PUBLIC LANDS.

WE ARE SURROUNDED BY NATIONAL FOREST, 14,000 FOOT PEAKS.

IT IS RICHES OF PUBLIC LANDS.

WE ARE ALWAYS WAITING FOR THE NEXT WILDFIRE.

PARTICULARLY IN THE DRYER AND DRYER SEASONS.

SO IF THERE IS A WAY TO WORK WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO DO FIRE MITIGATION, TO HAVE FORESTRY ACTIVITY THAT SENDS THOSE FORESTS AND MAKE THEM SAFER, BUT ALSO PROTECTS THE ECOLOGY AND THE BEAUTY OF THOSE PARTICULAR PLACES, THERE PROBABLY ARE SOME WIN WIN.

WHAT DOES NOT HAPPEN, AND CERTAINLY WOULD CONCERN ME AND TRUST REPUBLIC LAND IS ANY FORM OF HAIRCUTTING.

ANYTHING THAT WOULD ESSENTIALLY BRING A COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISE INTO SMALLER, LOCAL, RURAL COMMUNITIES, AND TAKE THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT OUT OF THOSE COMMUNITIES.

IF IT HELPS SUPPORT THOSE COMMUNITIES, IF IT WORKS WITH LOCAL TRIBES, IN PARTICULAR, TPL HAS DONE A LOT OF PROJECTS WITH LOCAL TRIBES.

THERE IS A GOOD EXAMPLE IN MAINE .

THAT IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOCAL TRIBE, THAT THE FORESTRY ACTIVITY.

IT MAINTAINS OUTDOOR ACTIVITY.

SO THERE ARE SOME EXAM IS, AS LONG AS IT IS DONE IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES, WITH LOCAL LAND MANAGERS, THAT I THINK YOU CAN WORK.

>> GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE, IF YOU HAVE ONE, OF THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND HELPING FORM COLLABORATION BETWEEN PRESERVATION, BUT ALSO THE USE OF LANDS, FOR LOGGING, OIL, GAS, WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE.

>> SURE, IN THE NEWS TODAY, AND CERTAINLY IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK IS HOUSING.

THAT'S A REALLY BIG QUESTION.

AGAIN, I LIVE IN RURAL COLORADO IN A PLACE WHERE PUBLIC LANDS ARE ABUNDANT.

AND PLACES TO PUT AFFORDABLE HOUSING ARE NOT.

MONTANA IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.

WE HAVE A PARK PROJECT IN BOZEMAN, MONTANA THAT WE WORKED ON.

IT WAS 60 ACRES.

CREATED A LOCAL PARK.

AND EIGHT ACRES WERE CARVED OFF HER AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR THAT COMMUNITY.

THERE ARE ABSOLUTELY EFFORTS THAT CAN WORK.

PARTICULARLY IF A LOCAL VOTER IS VOTING ON SOMETHING THAT THEY KNOW WILL DO BOTH.

I THINK VERY FEW OF US LIKE A VERY TOP-DOWN APPROACH, THAT MAYBE DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE LOCAL NUANCES OF LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS WE KNOW BEST IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

WE KNOW WHAT BEST CAN WORK.

THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE COLLABORATED FOR A VERY LONG TIME, AND IF WE START THERE I THINK SOME OF THE ANSWERS CAN EMERGE.

>> YOU JUST REFERRED TO THE IDEA THAT PUBLIC, THAT HOUSING COULD BE BUILT ON PUBLIC LANDS AND SOLVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

AND OF COURSE, THERE WAS THAT ANNOUNCEMENT TOGETHER WITH, I THINK IT WAS THE SECRETARY OF INTERIOR AND THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND THE TRUMPET RESTRICTION, SAYING THEY WERE GOING TO DO THAT.

ARE YOU GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN SEEING IF THIS CAN WORK, AND DO YOU THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA?

>> WELL, I HOPE WE ARE INVITED TO THE TABLE.

I THINK THE BEST MINDS AND A WHOLE HOST OF ORGANIZATIONS THAT MIGHT BE HELPFUL TO THAT CONVERSATION WILL MAKE FOR BETTER DECISIONS.

AND CERTAINLY, I DON'T THINK THERE ARE ABSOLUTES AROUND THIS.

I DON'T THINK THAT I OR TRUST REPUBLIC LAND WOULD SUPPORT THE NOTION THAT ACROSS-THE-BOARD, YOU THINK ABOUT PUBLIC LANDS FOR COMMERCIAL ACTIVITY OR FOR EXTRACTION OR FOR HOUSING.

THERE MAY BE EXAMPLES WHERE THAT COULD WORK.

AND REMEMBER, ONLY ABOUT 7% OF DOUBLE GLANDS IN THIS COUNTRY SORT OF RESIDE NEAR BIG URBAN AREAS, WHERE HOUSING IS IN THE GREATEST SITUATION OF A CRUNCH.

SO IT'S NOT QUITE THAT EASY, AND THERE ARE PROBABLY SOME OPPORTUNITIES AND SOME APPROACHES, AS I SAID EARLIER, AS LONG AS THAT IS DONE IN AN ENGAGING WAY, INCLUSIVE TO THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES.

IT BRINGS THE EXPERTS TOGETHER AND IS NOT JUST SOME ACROSS-THE- BOARD STATEMENT, THAT WE ARE GOING TO TURN PUBLIC LANDS INTO EITHER COMMERCIAL ENTERPRISES OR TO SOLVE ALL THEIR PROBLEMS.

IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE OPTIMIZE, IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE CREATIVE SOLUTIONS.

I THINK THEY ARE THERE, AND I HOPE THAT TRUST REPUBLIC LAND IS AT THE TABLE WHEN THOSE QUESTIONS ARE ASKED.

>> HOW WORRIED ARE YOU ABOUT THE CUTS THAT SEEM TO BE IMPENDING FOR THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE AND OTHER RELATED AGENCIES, AND WHAT ARE THE DANGERS IF THOSE GO THROUGH?

>> YOU KNOW, WE ARE WORRIED.

I THINK WE JOINED LOTS OF OTHER NONPROFIT, NGOS, GOVERNMENT AGENCIES THAT ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THESE CUTS.

WE ARE GOING INTO THE VERY HEAVY SEASON, SPRING BREAK AND SUMMER VACATIONS, WHERE PEOPLE WILL BE OUT.

I JUST CAME ACROSS WASHINGTON, D.C., AND YOU CAN SEE THE BUDS OF THE CHERRY BLOSSOMS STARTING TO COME OUT.

THE TRAFFIC IS HEAVY.

THAT ENTIRE WASHINGTON MALL OUR PUBLIC LANDS.

THOSE ARE PUBLIC SPACES.

THOSE ARE PLACES THAT TELL OUR HISTORY IN OUR COUNTRY.

AND TO NOT STAFF THEM ADEQUATELY WOULD, FRANKLY, BE SORT OF AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION, JUST FROM BASIC ECONOMICS.

THEY ARE HUGE ECONOMIC DRIVERS.

THEY ARE PLACES THEY CREATE MEMORIES FOR FAMILIES FOR GENERATIONS.

AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE ACCESSIBLE.

WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE CARED FOR.

WE'VE SEEN MASSIVE WILDFIRES IN CALIFORNIA.

WE'VE SEEN FLOODING IN FLORIDA, NORTH CAROLINA, RELEASING ALL THESE NATURAL DISASTERS.

IN ONE OF THE THINGS THAT ARE PUBLIC LANDS DO IS THEY BUFFER SOME OF THOSE REALLY EXTREME WEATHER EVENTS.

AND THE MORE WE TAKE CARE OF THEM, THE MORE COMMUNITIES WILL BE BUFFERED FROM THOSE EXTREME EVENTS.

>> DR. CARRIE HAUSER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU ALL.