Parques rendem 200 bilhões de dólares anuais para a economia dos EUA

COMENTÁRIO DE AXEL GRAEL:

Os dados publicados pela National Recreation and Park Association - NRPA, uma forte organização que representa profissionais e empresas do setor de parques e recreação nos EUA, são impressionantes e mostram a importância e, principalmente, o reconhecimento que as áreas protegidas têm nos EUA.

A publicação "The Economic Impact of Local Parks" mostra que os parques locais e regionais nos EUA geram uma atividade econômica de US$ 140 bilhões anuais e oferecem 1 milhão de empregos. Se somados aos parques estaduais e nacionais, as áreas públicas protegidas nos EUA geram a impressionante cifra de US$ 200 bilhões anuais! O valor corresponde quase ao valor do PIB (2016) de Portugal e é maior do que o do Peru.

O que se pode depreender dos dados citados é que, ao contrário do Brasil, onde parques ainda são vistos por muita gente como meros sorvedores de dinheiro e um obstáculo ao desenvolvimento, nos EUA as áreas protegidas estão inseridas na economia e são relevantes inclusive na geração de empregos.

Axel Grael




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The Economic Impact of Local Parks

We have always known that local and regional public parks add significant value and benefits to their communities in terms of Conservation, Health & Wellness and Social Equity. Beyond that, local and regional park agencies are also engines of economic activity in their communities.

When the spending at local and regional parks is combined with that of national and state parks, public parks are responsible for more than $200 billion in annual economic activity.

America’s local and regional public park agencies generated nearly $140 billion in economic activity and supported almost 1 million jobs from their operations and capital spending alone in 2013. When the spending at local and regional parks is combined with that of national and state parks, public parks are responsible for more than $200 billion in annual economic activity. These are the key findings of research conducted by the Center for Regional Analysis at George Mason University and led by Dr. Terry Clower.

Discover more about how local and regional parks contribute to economic prosperity in their communities here.

The study, the first nationwide study of its kind, focuses exclusively on the direct, indirect and induced effects local and regional park agencies’ spending have on economic activity. The analysis is based on data compiled from both the U.S. Census Bureau and the NRPA’s PRORAGIS database. Read a more thorough, technical discussion of the study here.

The economic benefits of local and regional public parks span coast-to-coast across the U.S. Learn what the economic contribution local and regional parks make in your state here.

Policymakers and elected officials at all levels of government should take notice. Investments made to local and regional parks not only raise the standard of living in our neighborhoods, towns and cities, but they also spark activity that can ripple throughout the economy. Yet public park funding is at threat.

Perhaps you have questions about NRPA’s The Economic Impact of Local Parks study? Here are a few FAQs.


Fonte: NRPA