Nature is worth supporting

Three-quarters of the 5,550 adults surveyed say we need to increase the number of programs available for Americans to enjoy nature, the outdoors, and wildlife. This includes 71 percent of respondents who self-identified as conservatives and 81 percent of self-identified liberals. Measured by political affiliation, 74 percent of Republicans and 81 percent of Democrats in our survey supported increasing these programs.

Exactly 3.2 percent of all adults think these sorts of programs are over-funded.

We also found that 59 percent of adults agree with using a charge on oil and gas development to help pay the cost of activities related to nature and wildlife. Only 16 percent disagree with this funding source. This broad-based support gives hope for the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, which proposes to use existing royalties on oil and gas development on federal lands and waters.