By Mark Udall, Colorado’s senior senator and member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee— From the grasslands of the Eastern Plains to the crimson cliffs of the Western Slope, Colorado’s public lands and natural splendor forms the foundation for our quality of life. For many of us, these natural features and scenic landscapes are why we have chosen to live and do business in Colorado.
Our parks, forests and public lands also form the bedrock for much of our economy, drawing tourists to Colorado and the Rocky Mountain West from across the nation and around the world.
A recent study by the Montana-based think tank, Headwaters Economics, showed that from 2000 to 2012, Colorado created more than 228,000 jobs in large part due to our natural resources and open spaces.…