The Department of the Interior announced Aug. 30 that 2.1 million acres for hunting and fishing are now open.

“Increasing access to outdoor recreation opportunities is essential to advancing the administration’s commitment to the conservation stewardship of our public lands,” DOI Secretary Deb Haaland said in a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service press release. “Responsible hunting and fishing helps to promote healthy wildlife habitats while boosting local recreation economies.”

As part of the Biden-Harris administration’s 'America the Beautiful' initiative, 88 National Wildlife Refuges and one National Fish Hatchery are included in the expansion.

The  initiative has a goal to conserve and restore 30% of lands and waters by 2030 by partnering with local volunteers.

Service Principal Deputy Director Martha Williams considers the expansion a contributory factor for enhancing the lives of Americans “while stimulating the national economy to which hunting and fishing contribute significantly.” 

The expansion results in 910 opportunities for hunting or fishing and represents the most significant opening and expansion of hunting and fishing opportunities by the USFWS, the release stated.

Outdoor activities contributed over $156 billion in economic activity in communities across the country in 2016, according to the Service’s National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, the USFWS reported.