Despite President Trump and Interior Secretary Zinke’s best attempts to slash national monuments and close off our national parks for industry and the rich, the movement to protect public lands is not slowing down. In fact, it’s growing and in a huge way.
On December 4th, Trump announced major and unprecedented reductions to American public lands—the reduction of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument by nearly 50% and Bears Ears National Monument by 85%. Less than a day later, Interior Secretary Zinke released recommendations to shrink or alter management for eight other national monuments. With those two moves, this administration just conducted the biggest rollback of public lands protections in American history.
Our campaign continues to join with partners on the ground—stressing what’s at risk and why these places mean so much to so many people.
Utah:
In Utah, Bears Ears National Monument’s importance to Tribal Nations cannot be overstated. The cultural, archaeological and natural value on that land encapsulates centuries of history--one of a larger fight for Indigenous sovereignty. The Bears Ears designation is a notable example of the Antiquities Act serving people historically marginalized from conservation decisions and its benefits.
That same importance exists for Grand Staircase- Escalante National Monument among Hispanic communities. The site speaks to the strong Latino influence in the region with thousands of archaeological sites. The site of over 6,000 people standing in solidarity to oppose these monumental changes at the Salt Lake City Capitol building speaks for itself.
Nevada:
In Nevada, the Gold Butte National Monument designation was one centered on its importance for the Paiute Nation. The desert landscape is a place where Southern Paiutes have coexisted with its rare wildlife and flora for time immemorial. Our Wild America campaign organizers have created a strong relationship with the Tribal Nation in the Las Vegas area and attended several solidarity events in concert of protecting this landscape. Historically threatened by vandalism and artifact robbery, undoing protections and shrinking boundaries at this site comes at the grave expense of Tribal Nations who fought for its safety. The campaign will continue to defend Gold Butte National Monument and all of the culture and history it holds.
California:
Zinke has been eyeing Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument for some time now. Rich in outdoor recreation opportunities and awe-inspiring forestland, the monument is one of invaluable ecological benefits and happens to be quite a popular site for Sierra Club outings. The Mother Lode chapter has taken advantage of the protected and public landscape for day trips with many young Californian immigrants and DREAMers benefitting from the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA)-- some experiencing the great American outdoors for the first time. Cascade-Siskiyou provides the students a place to regroup and recharge from the daily fear of deportation. Inviting destructive industry to carve these landscapes only risks progress of inclusivity in the outdoors-- and the campaign is fighting any and all of these discriminatory attempts. The Oregon Chapter is similarily raising resistance on the reduction of this precious place.
Across the country, people are not only recognizing more and more the value of public lands, they’re organizing to protect these places permanently. The power of our grassroots teams and coalition building cannot be denied. With strength in numbers, this administration faces a long fight ahead in taking away the places we know and love.
