Obama launches Great Outdoors initiative

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President Barack Obama is launching a drive to protect more parts of the nation’s landscape and to encourage more outdoors activities by Americans.

The president said Friday the initiative will involve a series of listening sessions throughout the nation to solicit an array of ideas.

Obama said conservation is an integral part of economic growth, and that his new program also will create jobs. He promised that it won’t be a big federal program driven from Washington.

Obama made his remarks at a White House-sponsored “conference on the great outdoors” at the Interior Department.

--Associated Press