Denver, CO-- Today, Coloradans called on Interior Secretary Zinke to preserve the country’s national monuments. The event featured a crowd of over 50 at Denver’s Patagonia store-- where partnered with business owners -- Including Patagonia and ___ to express the importance of the nation’s public lands for our health and economy.
In response, Kim Pope of the Sierra Club’s Our Wild America campaign issued the following statement:
“Once again, Colorodans urged Zinke to keep public lands in public hands-- and to keep them open to the public, not closed for fossil fuel extraction. Colorado and the Four Corners region attract tourists worldwide because of our region’s natural and historical value.
“The Colorado outdoors economy is booming; research consistently confirms the benefit of public lands on physical and mental health. The area surrounding Canyons of the Ancients has thrived in size and job creation since its national monument designation. Stripping away protection for these places nationally is just bad economics.
“This administration’s efforts to remove critical land protections is rooted in short term profit aspirations for fossil fuel executives rather than the public’s best interests especially the West’s outdoor and tourism economy.”
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