Your January public lands update: Read the latest and take action.

Congress is attempting to use the Congressional Review Act to remove a national monument management plan, a targeted attack on protected public lands in Utah and across the country.

Urge Congress to oppose H.R. 521 and S. 220 the Senate companion to eliminate the Antiquities Act and strip Presidents of their authority to designate monuments that protect ou r natural resources and cultural heritage.

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of celebrating National Public Lands Day with our amazing staff and Friends Network partners in New Mexico, Congressional champions, and public land enthusiasts in the community to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the National Conservation Lands. The contrast between public lands celebrations and today couldn't be starker. Today’s federal government shutdown marks the latest blow to unprotected public lands across the country. The shutdown, combined with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s plan to designate oil and gas permitting as "essential" and the administration’s threat to lay off thousands more federal employees, makes it clear that this administration prioritizes corporations over communities. Here's what they can't shut down: our resolve. Despite an administration historically opposed to public lands and conservation, our collective voice has been able to fight off every attempt to sell off public lands. That's the power of what we've built together—and it's why we can't stop now. In this newsletter, you'll find two urgent threats that need your voice right now, celebrations worth sharing, a tribute to our founding trustee Richard Moe, and ways to deepen your connection to this growing movement. Your action matters—let's get to work.

PIMA COUNTY, Ariz. — Tuesday’s introduction of H.R.5393 — legislation that aims to undo Presidential Proclamation 7320, which established Ironwood Forest National Monument in 2000 — is the latest in a series of attacks on public land in Arizona. The bill was introduced by Representative Paul Gosar , with Representatives Eli Crane and Andy Biggs as co-sponsors. The districts of the three representatives do not overlap with the monument. In 2017, communities and organizations across southern Arizona rallied in response to a similar and unsuccessful attempt by Rep. Gosar to undermine the monument. The introduction of mining on currently protected public lands, which the bill intends to enable, would devastate Ironwood Forest National Monument’s native ecosystems and sever wildlife connectivity. Many expect the bill’s success or failure to sit with Representative Juan Ciscomani , whose district includes part of Ironwood Forest National Monument. On Monday, Ciscomani became the latest co-sponsor, and the only co-sponsor from Arizona, on the Public Lands in Public Hands Act, which aims to preserve public lands by blocking unauthorized sell offs or transfers. Ciscomani has also voiced support for Chiricahua National Monument’s potential conversion to a national park. The Ironwood Forest National Monument has become increasingly popular with well over 100,000 visitors a year, and local governments are paying attention. Mayor Jon Post , at the Town of Marana ’s recent vote on a resolution in support of the monument, said, “We want to do everything we can to protect that.” Two other local governments—the City of Tucson and Pima County — have also issued resolutions that opposed any reduction in boundaries or any increase in resource extraction in Ironwood Forest National Monument. _______ Below are statements from Ironwood Forest National Monument defense coalition members responding to Tuesday’s legislation: “Rep. Paul Gosar’s push to rescind Ironwood Forest’s protections is a misguided bid for attention,” said Christine Flanagan, president of the Friends of Ironwood Forest . “The monument isn’t even in his district — if it were, he would know it’s both highly visited and deeply valued by the local community.” “Ironwood Forest National Monument is home to a dense population of ironwood trees, bighorn sheep, and important habitat for several endangered species,” said Sandy Bahr, director of Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon (Arizona) Chapter . “It is significant for its natural and cultural resources and is broadly supported by local governments, Tribal Nations, businesses, and more. Rep Gosar is out of touch with Arizonans when he goes after land protections. He should abandon this short-sighted legislation.” "This short-sighted attack on the monument would cause irrevocable harm to Southern Arizona’s landscapes and communities," said Sanober Mirza, Arizona Program Manager for the National Parks Conservation Association . Saguaro National Park is a neighbor to the monument. The Wilderness Society’s Southwest Regional Director, Scott Miller , said “This is an affront to the freedom of all Americans who rely on these landscapes for cultural, recreational, economic and health benefits. It will threaten critical habitat for wildlife and desecrate our treasured natural places, and flies in the face of the massive broad Tribal and local support for these places.” “Congressman Gosar’s wrongheaded legislation is not just an attack on iconic monuments in Arizona, it tees up potential attacks on cherished monuments in other states as well,” said Chris Hill, CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation . “These monuments were designated to protect irreplaceable cultural sites, fragile ecosystems, and landscapes that generations of people — including Tribes, local communities, and outdoor enthusiasts — have fought to preserve. This move ignores science, public opinion, and our shared responsibility to protect the places that make America unique.” Kate Hotten, co-executive director with the Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection , said “Attempts to strip protections from public lands are deeply unpopular. Ciscomani knows that we’ve seen this play out before, and that the community will stand up in strong support of Ironwood Forest National Monument.” “Ironwood Forest is a refuge of critical habitat for the wildlife and plants that give our region its character and are cherished by local communities” said Nico Lorenzen, conservation and wildlife associate at Wild Arizona . “The monument is an irreplaceable treasure worth far more than its weight in the metals extractive industries want to rip from its soil.” The Arizona Program Manager for Mountain Mamas, Selina Barajas , said "Ironwood Forest National Monument is a vital part of Southern Arizona’s natural and cultural heritage. Representative Gosar's efforts to dismantle its protections threaten the health of our families, communities, and future generations. Moms across Arizona know that protecting clean air, safe and clean water, wildlife, and public lands isn’t optional — it’s essential! We stand with the many local governments, organizations, and residents who have made it clear: Ironwood Forest belongs to the people, not to mining interests." “Ironwood Forest National Monument is a stronghold for Sonoran Desert wildlife that’s cherished by all Arizonans, so this bill is utterly appalling," said Laiken Jordahl, Southwest conservation advocate with the Center for Biological Diversity . “Gosar’s attempt to hand this vital habitat and beloved outdoor recreation destination over to mining companies against the will of local people isn’t policy. It’s a disgraceful sell-off of our natural heritage.” “As the weather cools in Arizona, locals and visitors will flock to our public lands, including our national monuments. Arizonans and Americans spoke clearly this summer — we have the right to access our public lands. Removing protections for the Ironwood Forest National Monument and turning it over to the mining industry would prevent us from accessing and using the land” said Environment Arizona’s Great Outdoors Campaign Director, Ellen Montgomery . “Our wildlife needs large undisturbed habitats to flourish. Ironwood Forest provides room to roam for animals and undeveloped areas for plants to grow. We need more nature in Arizona and we must protect what we have. We urge members of Congress to oppose this bill.” ### Kris Deutschman, Conservation Lands Foundation, kris@conservationlands.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Conservation Lands Foundation today denounced the introduction of two bills by U.S. Representative Paul Gosar that seek to abolish Ironwood Forest and Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monuments in Arizona. These proposed rollbacks represent a direct assault on America’s public lands, Indigenous heritage, and the will of the American people.  Below is a statement from Chris Hill, CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation: “Congressman Gosar’s wrongheaded legislation is not just an attack on iconic monuments in Arizona, it tees up potential attacks on cherished monuments in other states as well. These monuments were designated to protect irreplaceable cultural sites, fragile ecosystems, and landscapes that generations of people — including Tribes, local communities, and outdoor enthusiasts — have fought to preserve. This move ignores science, public opinion, and our shared responsibility to protect the places that make America unique. “Ironwood Forest National Monument, designated 25 years ago with overwhelming local support, spans 129,000 acres of the biologically rich Sonoran Desert. It is home to centuries-old ironwood trees and some of the region’s most significant archaeological and cultural sites. Just last week, the Tucson City Council reaffirmed its support for the monument. “Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, designated in 2023 after decades of advocacy by the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition, protects ancestral lands and the Colorado River watershed from uranium mining and other threats. It honors Indigenous leadership and preserves the region's clean air, water, and sacred sites while allowing for traditional uses like hunting and grazing. “We have to ask, does Congressman Gosar actually talk to his constituents? The public overwhelmingly supports these monuments. According to the 2025 State of the Rockies poll, 89% of Western voters — across political affiliations — support keeping national monument designations in place. In Arizona, 80% of voters support Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni, including large majorities of Republicans, Independents, and Democrats. “The Conservation Lands Foundation calls on Congress to reject these extreme, anti-public lands proposals and stand with the American people, the Tribes and communities who have worked tirelessly to protect these lands for future generations.” About Conservation Lands Foundation The Conservation Lands Foundation represents a national network of community advocates who are solely focused on the public lands overseen by the Bureau of Land Management including National Conservation Lands and similar protected public lands in the Western Arctic. ###

Contacts: Shevawn Bell, Communications Director, Conservation Lands Foundation, shevawn@conservationlands.org Washington, DC - Yesterday, more than 65 organizations urged House Leadership to protect Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument from House members who are attempting to use the appropriations process to open the monument to development and destruction. The letter calls on leadership to remove language from the House Fiscal Year 2026 appropriations bill that would prohibit funding for the monument, unless it is managed pursuant to an outdated management plan from the first Trump administration. Specifically, Section 137 (pg. 75) of the House 2026 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill would require the Department of the Interior to manage Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument “in compliance with the Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plans…dated February 2020.” If passed, this language effectively implements Trump’s 2017 illegal shrinking of the Monument, and sets a dangerous precedent for not only Grand Staircase-Escalante, but all of our nation's National Monuments. Quotes and additional information can be found below. “The agency cuts and harmful policy riders included in the House 2026 Interior Appropriations bill is another backdoor attempt to attack America’s cherished public lands and national monuments,” said Chris Hill, Chief Executive Officer for the Conservation Lands Foundation. “This bill will severely impact the cultural, natural, and historical resources of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument by prohibiting the Bureau of Land Management from implementing the updated monument plan, which was carefully developed through extensive public input and meaningful engagement. This misguided language, along with the deep cuts to land management agencies like the BLM, ignores the voices of local communities, Tribal nations who hold this land sacred, and the rural communities who depend on these monuments as economic drivers.” “Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is one of the most treasured public landscapes in America. But what makes it like nowhere else—remarkable paleontological discoveries and cultural connections, jaw-dropping scenery, and outstanding intact and diverse natural ecosystems—is at risk if the 2026 Appropriations bill passes,” said Travis Hammill, DC Director for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) . “While members of Utah’s House of Representatives and other public land opponents continue their attacks on Grand Staircase-Escalante, SUWA, our members, and our partners will unwaveringly continue to protect and defend the Monument for current and future generations.” As stated in the letter: “... Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah is the first and largest national monument entrusted to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to conserve, restore, and protect. First designated a National Monument in 1996 and reinstated to its full boundaries in 2021, Grand Staircase-Escalante contains unique scientific and historic resources that offer unparalleled research opportunities for earth and climate scientists, paleontologists, geologists, archaeologists, historians, and conservation biologists. In addition, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, with its slot canyons and sweeping vistas, has become a destination place for people around the world in search of a unique wilderness experience… The BLM initiated a resource management planning (RMP) process for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument on July 28, 2022 in accordance with Presidential Proclamation 10286. A final RMP was released on August 29, 2024 and includes the full boundaries of the established monument. As with all National Monuments, the development and implementation of an RMP is essential for providing guidance on management and clarity to the public on management decisions. Sec. 137 would usurp this important public process.” Read the full letter here. About the Monument Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument was designated as a national monument in 1996 to protect the incredible scientific, ecological, and paleontological resources within its 1.9 million acres. This crown jewel of America’s national public lands was the first monument managed by the BLM, and was the first unit in the agency’s now robust and expansive “National Conservation Lands” system. Since its establishment, heightened protections for the Monument’s geology, paleontology, wildlife, plant communities, and ancestral sites have succeeded in preserving these unique values for generations to come, and local communities on the Monument’s doorstep have benefited as well. More than 25 years later, the numerous benefits of protecting Grand Staircase-Escalante are clear: the monument preserves a remarkable ecosystem at the landscape-level and sets the stage for future discovery about human, paleontological, and geologic history on the Colorado Plateau. On December 4, 2017, President Trump ignored millions of public comments and eliminated large swaths of the Monument, slashing it by 47 percent – roughly 900,000 acres. Thankfully, on October 8, 2021, President Biden signed a proclamation restoring Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to its full, original boundaries. In 2023, BLM began the process of developing a new management plan for the full Monument. During both the scoping phase of the current planning effort and after a draft plan was released, CLF and SUWA members and supporters of public lands conservation across the country submitted comments to the BLM calling for a holistic, conservation-based management plan worthy of this remarkable place. In August 2023 , a Federal District Court Judge in Utah dismissed lawsuits brought by the State of Utah, Blue Ribbon Coalition, and others challenging President Biden’s use of the Antiquities Act to restore the boundaries of Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments. The state and other plaintiffs quickly appealed that decision to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, which held oral argument on September 26, 2024, and will issue a decision in the coming months. SUWA, CLF and eight other conservation organizations have intervened on behalf of the United States to defend President Biden’s restoration of the Monuments, as have four Tribal nations. ### Conservation Lands Foundation (CLF) leads the national movement of community-based advocates to protect, restore and expand National Conservation Lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. CLF is headquartered in Durango, Colorado with field offices throughout the West and in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit conservationlands.org. The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) is a nonprofit organization with members and supporters from around the country dedicated to protecting America’s redrock wilderness. From offices in Moab, Salt Lake City, and Washington, DC, our team of professionals defends the redrock, organizes support for America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act, and stewards a world-renowned landscape. Learn more at www.suwa.org.

Contacts:  Shevawn Bell, Communications Director, Conservation Lands Foundation, shevawn@conservationlands.org

Washington, D.C. — In an act of midnight marauding, the White House announced that it will eliminate two of the country’s national monuments–Chuckwalla National Monument and Sattitla Highlands National Monument–both in California. A fact sheet initially posted by the White House Friday, March 14, around 11:30 pm EDT indicated Trump signed an executive order "Terminating proclamations declaring nearly a million acres constitute new national monuments that lock up vast amounts of land from economic development and energy production.”  Below is a statement from Chris Hill, CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation, which represents a national network of community advocates who are solely focused on the National Conservation Lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. “The administration knows that its policy to give away America’s public lands is wildly unpopular, which is why they’re acting like midnight marauders. People of all political affiliations love their national monuments and their access to them. Chuckwalla and Sáttítla Highlands national monuments are some of the nation's most spectacular and culturally significant landscapes, and they were widely supported when they were designated last year. “Instead of respecting the years of strong Tribal leadership, bipartisan collaboration and heartfelt advocacy from local communities, businesses and elected officials, the administration’s action is a shameful insult to the Indigenous cultural connections, vital habitats, outdoor access, and local economies these monuments support. “There’s really no explanation for this other than this administration is trying to sneakily and greedily sell off the country’s public lands to the wealthy and well-connected, thereby blocking access for everyone else. It’s an attack that flies in the face of America’s ideals and the Conservation Lands Foundation will be unrelenting in our fight on the side of the people–85% of voters in the west–who support keeping public lands in the public’s hands.” ####

Interior Department’s Internal Review of National Monuments and Protected Public Lands Is About Selling Off the Country’s Natural Resources Not Energy Dominance Washington, D.C. — Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has issued secretarial orders that set the stage for gutting protections of the country’s beloved and ecologically valuable natural landscapes. The orders mandate a 15-day internal review of national monuments and all lands withdrawn from fossil fuel and mining development.  Below is a statement from Chris Hill, CEO of the Conservation Lands Foundation, which represents a national network of community advocates who are solely focused on the National Conservation Lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. “Conducting a slap dash, secret review of national monuments shows that this administration is scared of public scrutiny because they know how popular these public lands are. The majority of the country continues to show their love for public lands, including during the first Trump administration’s attempt to privatize the country’s sacred, historic and recreationally and culturally significant landscapes. “These orders also willfully ignore the rural residents and communities whose personal and local incomes rely on these lands being protected from privatization. Outdoor recreation on BLM lands contributes more than $11 billion to the economy and substantial income to individuals, small and large businesses, and rural communities through hunting, fishing, camping, climbing, riding off-highway vehicles, and many other activities. “With roughly 85% of BLM lands already available for energy production–and roughly half of existing oil and gas leases not being used –it's crystal clear that these recent orders targeting the 15% of public lands that are protected for the public’s use have nothing to do with the nation’s energy portfolio. “There’s really no explanation other than this administration is trying to sneakily and greedily sell off the 15% of protected public lands to the wealthy and well-connected, thereby blocking access for everyone else. It’s an attack that flies in the face of America’s ideals and the Conservation Lands Foundation will be unrelenting in our fight on the side of the people– 85% of voters in the west –who support keeping public lands in the public’s hands.” ####

Washington, D.C. — Today, President Joe Biden designated Chuckwalla National Monument in southern California and Sáttítla Highlands National Monument in northern California, ensuring long-lasting protection for two extraordinary landscapes, safeguarding their cultural, ecological and recreational values for generations to come.  The Conservation Lands Foundation is the only national nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting, restoring and expanding the National Conservation Lands system, managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Today’s designation of Chuckwalla National Monument adds over 624,000 acres to the National Conservation Lands. It represents an important step forward in ensuring that these public lands—some of the nation's most spectacular and culturally significant landscapes—remain protected and accessible for all Americans to enjoy. Below is a statement from Chris Hill, Chief Executive Officer for the Conservation Lands Foundation, in response to today’s national monument designations: “President Joe Biden’s use of the Antiquities Act to protect Chuckwalla and Sáttítla Highlands National Monuments is the culmination of years of strong Tribal leadership, bipartisan collaboration and heartfelt advocacy from local communities, businesses and elected officials. Today’s action honors Indigenous cultural connections, conserves vital habitats, expands outdoor access, and strengthens local economies. “President Biden has now protected over 2.4 million acres of public lands using the Antiquities Act—more than any recent president in their first term. We commend the Biden Administration for recognizing the profound importance of public lands and waters in the U.S. to address the climate crisis and provide clean air and water, essential habitat for wildlife and plants, cultural continuity for Indigenous communities, and abundant recreational opportunities. “At the same time, we call on Congress to ensure the Bureau of Land Management has the resources it needs to steward Chuckwalla National Monument and other protected areas within the National Conservation Lands system. Proper funding is essential to managing the cultural and ecological resources that make these places so invaluable. “Public lands like Chuckwalla and Sáttítla Highlands National Monuments unite us across political and cultural divides, and reflect a shared commitment to preserving the lands and waters that we all depend on." “We look forward to continuing to work with Tribal Nations, our Friends Grassroots Network, local communities, and future administrations to ensure public lands remain a source of inspiration and resilience for everyone.” ####

San Francisco, Calif. - Today, President Joe Biden designated Molok Luyuk (pronounced “Ma.lok/ Lue.yoke”) as an addition to Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument near Sacramento, California and expanded San Gabriel Mountains National Monument near Los Angeles.  Interior Secretary Deb Haaland visited Molok Luyuk in September and San Gabriel Mountains in September 2023. Today, the President honored his administration’s commitment to Tribal leaders, elected officials, businesses, recreationists, and local communities by expanding Berryessa Snow Mountain and San Gabriel Mountains National Monuments via the Antiquities Act. Below is a statement from Jocelyn Torres, Co-Interim Executive Director and Chief Conservation Officer for Conservation Lands Foundation, in response to the President’s action on Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument: “Today’s action by President Biden to expand Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument by designating Molok Luyuk honors efforts to safeguard sites of sacred, cultural and historic significance, wildlife and rare plant habitat, and outdoor recreation for current and future generations. “We are grateful President Biden heard the calls of Tribal leaders; federal, state and local governments; businesses; and advocates from Indigenous, outdoor recreation, conservation and many other communities to permanently protect this sacred landscape by use of the Antiquities Act. “The Biden administration has protected more than 4.6 million acres of lands sacred to Native communities by designating the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument in Arizona, the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in Nevada, and by restoring Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monuments in Utah. Expanding Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to include Molok Luyuk builds on that legacy, while helping to meet the administration’s goals of protecting 30% of lands and waters in the United States by 2030. We look forward to continuing to work with his Administration, our Friends Grassroots Network, Tribal nations and elected officials to designate other places worthy of protection. “Molok Luyuk means “Condor Ridge'' in the Patwin language and is the ancestral home of the Hill Patwin people. Descendants of the Hill Patwin live here today as the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, the Kletzel Dehe Wintun Nation and the Cachil DeHe Band of Wintun Indians. Historic trails across Molok Luyuk linked these Tribes to each other and to the wider network of trade and cultural exchange throughout the region. Indigenous people from all directions have come to its springs for ceremonies and healing since time immemorial. “The public can thank President Biden and learn more about the importance of Molok Luyuk and Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument at www.conservationlands.org/molok_luyuk.”

Washington, D.C. - Today, President Joe Biden designated Avi Kwa Ame (Ah-VEE kwa-meh) in Southern Nevada and Castner Range in Texas as national monuments.  In November 2022 during the annual White House Tribal Nations Summit, President Biden announced his intention to designate Avi Kwa Ame in Southern Nevada as a national monument and last March, Interior Secretary Haaland visited Castner Range in Texas. Today, the President honored his commitment to Tribal leaders, elected officials, businesses, recreationists, and local communities by designating Avi Kwa Ame and Castner Range as national monuments via the Antiquities Act. Below is a statement from Brian Sybert, Executive Director for Conservation Lands Foundation, in response to the President’s action on Avi Kwa Ame National Monument: “Today’s action by President Biden to designate Avi Kwa Ame a national monument honors the decades-long efforts to protect this sacred area and creates a corridor of protection from the Mojave Preserve in California to Lake Mead National Recreation Area on the Arizona/Nevada border. “We are grateful President Biden heard the calls of Tribal leaders; federal, state and local governments; businesses; and advocates from Indigenous, outdoor recreation, conservation and many other communities to permanently protect this sacred landscape by use of the Antiquities Act. “We are thrilled Avi Kwa Ame will now be a part of the National Conservation Lands, alongside some of the most spectacular natural, historical, cultural and archaeological sites in the country, including places like Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante which President Biden helped restore early in his administration. We look forward to continuing to work with his administration, our Friends Grassroots Network, Tribal nations and elected officials to designate other places worthy of protection. “Avi Kwa Ame is home to Nevada’s largest Joshua Tree, critical desert tortoise habitat, and several sites of cultural and historic significance. Its designation as a national monument is a bold step forward towards achieving the goals of this Administration’s America the Beautiful goals.” The public can hear about the importance of Avi Kwa Ame National Monument from members of the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe and local community members at AviKwaAme.com . Learn more about Castner Range National Monument here . ####

Explore America's National Monuments with QT Luong, one of the most prolific photographers working in America's public lands and author of the award-winning photography book, Our National Monuments.

President Biden announced today that he is restoring protections for the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments. We applaud President Biden and Secretary Haaland for their leadership and persistence for this meaningful result and we hope you take a moment to read below how significant this decision is and what it means for future National Monument designations.  As you know, four years ago President Trump cut the size of the Bears Ears National Monument by 85% and the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in half. This action removed protections for some of the most culturally important land for the Hopi, Diné, Ute, Ute Mountain Ute, and Zuni peoples, world-renowned hotbeds of paleontological research, and world-class destinations for outdoor recreation and natural beauty. Bears Ears is the first tribally-requested national monument and Grand Staircase-Escalante the first monument placed into the National Landscape Conservation System to be managed by the Bureau of Land Management and not the U.S. Park Service. Conservation Lands Foundation responded quickly and joined with sovereign tribal nations connected to the land and local and national organizations in a lawsuit against the Administration’s actions. On the ground, our Friends Groups could only stand by and monitor–while withstanding the devastating impacts of the pandemic–the degradation of sacred sites and former Indigenous settlements from mining, grazing, looting and other activities that occurred on the unprotected lands. Woody Lee, Executive Director of Utah Diné Bikéyah said they celebrate the restoration while also acknowledging “the challenging times our native communities are having right now which makes this achievement bittersweet but a welcome and hopeful change for the future. We appreciate all the support and hard work of many people, organizations, leaders, and supporters who have helped advance our mission of healing the land and the people." Sarah Bauman, Executive Director of Grand Staircase Escalante Partners, recognizes it will be important to work “with Tribal leaders, conservation partners, the Bureau of Land Management, local and state officials, and others to safeguard irreplaceable natural and cultural resources, conduct essential research related to biodiversity and climate change, and protect Grand Staircase in perpetuity.” With protections restored we can breathe a sigh of relief but we can’t relent. Now is the window to protect the places we need if we’re going to have any impact of consequence on the climate and nature crises. We recognize the leadership and vision of Tribal governments and Indigenous non-profit organizations to restore justice.The fight for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante showed us that millions of Americans will stand up for protecting the places we need for the cultural continuity for sovereign tribal nations, their rich ecological and wildlife values, and their ability to improve public health and local economies. Whether through Presidential use of the Antiquities Act, Congressional legislation or regulatory action, with your continued support the Conservation Lands Foundation and our Friends Grassroots Network will achieve this future within the timeline that matters. When the right thing is done, we all win and it feels good to stand beside all of you conservation champions!

Happy 5th Anniversary to three National Monuments in the California Desert: the Sand to Snow National Monument, Mojave Trails National Monument, and Castle Mountains National Monument! In honor of their designation anniversaries, Maricela, CLF’s CA Associate Program Director, asked Frazier Haney a few questions about how these National Monuments protect critical habitats and mitigate impacts from climate change. We also discussed why protecting these landscapes is a crucial part of California’s Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) - and why we’re urging the Biden Administration to leave this plan intact. Frazier Haney is the Executive Director of The Wildlands Conservancy. Frazier was deeply involved in these Monument designations and has led many other conservation efforts in the California Desert. Maricela: What drew you to be so passionate about this area and designating the California Desert National Monuments? Frazier: These three National Monuments were designated by President Obama on February 12, 2016, and each of them is unique. Mojave Trails is my favorite place to stargaze - the night sky views there are unparalleled. Sand to Snow is one of the most diverse landscapes in our state and in the nation and includes Southern California’s tallest alpine peak, Mount San Gorgonio. Castle Mountains in the eastern Mojave Desert features a series of stunning peaks, and its wildflower season in March and April is particularly spectacular.

ESCALANTE, Utah (August 23, 2019) – Today, local and national groups, businesses and globally-respected scientist organizations, denounced the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) release of management plans for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument as another step toward undermining protections for Americans’ national monuments and other protected public lands. Top failures of the management plan released today: The plan opens up hundreds of thousands of acres of the original Monument (designated in 1996) to drilling and mining, while the administration’s illegal reduction of the Monument (decreasing it by nearly half) is still being actively litigated and while the Government Accountability Office is investigating whether the planning process itself is in violation of long-standing spending law. It is the result of a rushed and closed-door process, opening up land for inappropriate development with little input from the public. The plan changes standards for the management of all national monuments—affecting treasured places across the country—and doesn’t even protect what remains of Grand Staircase-Escalante. This reckless plan doesn’t protect Grand Staircase-Escalante or the businesses that depend on it, and sets an unacceptable precedent for national monuments across the country. Our irreplaceable public lands are the envy of the world, and the law requires that they be managed on behalf of all Americans. Quotes from businesses and local, national and scientific organizations: Nicole Croft, Executive Director, Grand Staircase-Escalante Partners “The BLM’s management plan attempts to cement the largest roll-back in public lands protections in American history. Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument has demonstrated its worth time and time again, through contributions to science, personal discovery and significant economic benefits to our local communities. These lands belong to every American, not just a few special interests.” Joe & Suzanne Catlett, Nemo’s Restaurant Group, LLC “No new Management Plans should be considered or released prior to the outcomes currently pending before the Courts. In our opinion this action is disingenuous, completed recklessly and does not represent the true best interest of this county or the American people. As owner/operators of an Escalante, Utah Main street business, and like other businesses in Garfield County, we have seen an immediate and direct decrease in our sales and revenue compared to years prior. This is a direct result of the BLM attempting to rush management plans on an Executive action that remains heavily litigated, may be reversed, and continues to impact the local economy.” Nathan Waggoner, Escalante Outfitters “Escalante Outfitters and many other businesses in our gateway communities rely on the protection and preservation of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to continue to grow our businesses and support our communities. We are deeply disappointed in the BLM’s new management plan because it turns a blind eye to the concerns of businesses who support a wilderness ethic and it caters to a small band of special interest groups who want to exploit our public lands for short term profits. Given that the litigation to restore the monument to its rightful size is still on-going, the new management plan is a waste of taxpayers money and detrimental to one of America’s last great expanses of wilderness.” Blake Spalding, co-owner, Hell’s Backbone Grill and Farm in Boulder, Utah “In our restaurant we’re talking to guests every day who have travelled from far and wide to enjoy the unspoiled protected public lands of Southern Utah. They desperately want these landscapes preserved, as they were intended to be when they were thoughtfully designated as protected Monuments. The new management plan is a travesty that will devastate the tranquil gateway communities and businesses that were thriving before this incursion.” David Polly, Immediate Past President, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology “If something’s not broke, you shouldn’t try to fix it. Grand Staircase-Escalante has been one of the most productive areas for paleontology in the last quarter century. The Monument has been a spectacular success in providing scientific value to the entire world. These new management plans are unnecessary and have already cost taxpayers more than $1 million, a fortune that could have produced thousands of more finds.” William H. Doelle, President and CEO, Archaeology Southwest “There is no question that Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument was legitimately established through the authority granted by the Antiquities Act of 1906. There is no question that this magnificent landscape is also a cultural one, bearing unparalleled evidence of people’s lives over millennia. What this deeply flawed plan reveals, like the recently released Bears Ears plan, is a troubling question—do national monuments even mean anything anymore? We believe they do, and we stand with our partners in pushing for proper and lawful protections for Grand Staircase-Escalante and all our national monuments.” Brian Sybert, Executive Director, Conservation Lands Foundation “Grand Staircase was designated more than twenty years ago, and its boundaries were later ratified by Congressional action. This plan is an attempt to further this administration’s reckless push to open treasured, irreplaceable lands to destructive mining and drilling—despite public outcry and before the courts have a chance to weigh in.” Heidi McIntosh, Managing Attorney of Earthjustice’s Rocky Mountains Office “Grand Staircase was an exceptionally successful national monument until President Trump rode into town and unlawfully shredded it. These protected lands have been a boon for the local economy and a treasure trove of dinosaur discoveries and new scientific insights precisely because they are protected. We’re disgusted, but not surprised, upon seeing Trump’s latest plans. While the Trump Administration is rushing a new scheme through to let mining companies and ranchers harm vast swaths of Grand Staircase for a quick buck, we’re in court working to stop them. These new plans won’t be worth the paper they’re printed on if the court rules that Trump violated the Antiquities Act and the Constitution.” Phil Hanceford, Attorney, The Wilderness Society “The Trump administration continues to steamroll forward with illegal actions to open nearly half the monument to drilling, and mining and other destructive activities. This planning process is another blatant example of the train headed down a barricaded track,” said Phil Hanceford , an attorney with The Wilderness Society . “While the BLM continues to disregard the law, the public, and the harm these plans will cause, we will fight in court to return the monument to its original boundary and ensure the entirety is managed in a way that protects this outstanding resource.” Mary O’Brien, Utah Forests Program Director, Grand Canyon Trust “The proposals to add more roads, more cattle grazing, more fuel extraction, more non-native grass seeding, more OHV use in wilderness study areas – it’s as if the BLM tried to promote every damaging activity they could imagine.” Theresa Pierno, President and CEO for National Parks Conservation Association: “From ancient dinosaur fossils to ascending plateaus and winding canyons developed over millions of years, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is unparalleled. But now, it’s being taken from the public and handed to the highest bidder. Grand Staircase-Escalante serves as a critical connection to three of our country’s national park sites – Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef National Parks and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. It shields rock formations and wildlife from harm and provides visitors with opportunities to experience intense quiet and solitude. Despite the monument’s value to the region and the millions of people who have fought to protect it, the Trump administration is green lighting destructive development, including mining and drilling, that will forever change this landscape and all we stand to learn from and experience here.” Rose Marcario, President and CEO, Patagonia “The executive order eliminating protections for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument was illegal and no management plan for these lands should proceed until the resolution of the lawsuits. If this administration’s reckless agenda is not stopped, it will lead to the destruction of a national treasure protected for over two decades that enjoys support from hunters and hikers as well as local businesses and communities. And even more troubling, it sets a dangerous precedent for the future of all public lands and waters. These wild and wonderful landscapes should not be auctioned off to the highest bidder, and we have every confidence the courts will rule in favor of the plaintiffs and the original boundaries of the National Monument will be restored.” Kya Marienfeld, Wildlands Attorney, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance “This illegal plan puts a fine point on the Trump administration’s rapacious vision for America’s public lands. This is a plan of plunder: authorizing rampant chaining of pinyon-juniper forests, unbridled energy development, and a free-for-all of off-road vehicle abuse. Grand Staircase-Escalante is one of the nation’s public land crown jewels; it is the quintessentially wild red rock landscape that people from across the country and around the world think of when they dream of visiting southern Utah. President Trump broke the law and defied Congress with his illegal order reducing the monument, and SUWA and its partners will persist with our fight in court to undo this damage and restore full protections to the entire monument ecosystem.” Lena Moffitt, director of the Sierra Club’s Our Wild America campaign “The bottom line is that the Trump administration acted illegally when it stripped the lands of Grand Staircase-Escalante of national monument status. With this plan, Bernhardt’s Interior is clearly trying to let in mining and drilling before a court can overturn the rollbacks.” Nicole Ghio, Senior Fossil Fuels Program Manager at Friends of the Earth “The new management plan for Grand Staircase Escalante ignores the overwhelming opposition to mining and drilling on this land. Bernhardt’s push to hand the Monument over to fossil fuel interests is possibly illegal and ignores the ongoing court battles. BLM’s plan is a rushed attempt to undercut established environmental protections.” ###

Escalante, UTAH – Today, an assortment of local and national groups, and globally-respected scientist organizations, denounced the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) release of draft management plans for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments as another step toward shrinking and destroying both. Despite unresolved legal challenges and a warning from 16 Senators in April to hold off on further planning, Secretary Zinke has pushed Interior and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to hastily craft management plans–spending nearly 2 million taxpayer dollars so far[1]–that do not reflect the original boundaries of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments, or the public’s desire for these treasured places to be protected from mining and drilling. While this administration continues to try to ignore public comment and dismiss the benefits of national monuments, these comments continue to be extremely important in demonstrating broad national support for protected lands. Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments are both world-renowned hotbeds of paleontological research, world-class destinations for outdoor recreation and natural beauty, and major economic drivers for small businesses in these regions. Bears Ears has been home to Hopi, Diné, Ute, Ute Mountain Ute, and Zuni peoples since time immemorial, and was designated as a national monument in 2016 to protect countless archaeological, cultural, and natural resources, including the wealth of traditional knowledge that Native people hold for this region. Below are statements from advocates/organizations who disagree with the DOI’s planning process, and the hastily-issued management plans based on proclamations still being challenged in court: Local Grassroots Organizations Nicole Croft, Executive Director, Grand Staircase-Escalante Partners “Grand Staircase Escalante Partners is incredibly disappointed that the BLM is moving with such haste to present management plans for the reduced monuments and excised lands from the Grand Staircase for public comment, with significant cost to the taxpayers. By the BLM’s own estimate, the Grand Staircase plan alone has already cost American taxpayers $1,160,004. That’s money desperately needed to improve hiking trails, hunting grounds and law enforcement. The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument already has a plan that should remain in place, continuing to protect the priceless antiquities within its borders, at least until a court rules on the legality of the Trump reduction.” Honor Keeler, Assistant Director, Utah Diné Bikéyah “It’s time that Native voices, as the original peoples of the Bears Ears region, are heard and the sovereign rights of Native Nations to protect their sacred places are recognized,” said Keeler, before adding, “These rights are affirmed through treaties, laws, legal precedent, and the government-to-government relationship Native Nations have with the federal government. In this country, we do not condone tearing down a church or temple with people in it and hand back in piecemeal the bricks and sacred items that have been destroyed. Likewise, the Bears Ears region is a sacred place that cannot be chopped up into pieces, for it is a sacred place in its entirety that has been used for thousands of years by the Indigenous Peoples of these lands.” Globally-Respected Scientists William Doelle, President and CEO, Archaeology Southwest “The rushed timeframe the BLM has pursued has almost certainly resulted in a flawed document that aims to manage an unacceptably and illegally downsized national monument. The lack of tribal engagement and lack of appropriate landscape scale are clearly the biggest flaws. This flawed process unfairly but necessarily shifts the burden onto reviewers to engage with this and work to repair the omissions.” David Polly, President, Society of Vertebrate Paleontology “The consultation for the draft management plan was rushed through, especially with regards to the scientific resources that are the reason it was established, including astounding fossil sites– massive dinosaurs, and tiny mammals that record our own origins–in every part of the excluded areas of the Monument. Even with a comprehensive new management plan, the protection afforded to the more than 700 excluded paleontological sites is much weaker than in the original monument.” Conservation Organizations Brian Sybert, Executive Director, Conservation Lands Foundation “This is another important opportunity for the public–the owners of these lands–to stand up to this reckless process and register official comments of opposition. Should the Interior Department continue its proven habit of ignoring comments they don’t like, the public’s official input is still vital to the record and future decisions affecting these places.” Nada Culver, Senior Counsel, The Wilderness Society “We’re being asked to provide input as the administration demonstrates its true intent to disregard both the law and the public in managing our public lands, including our most treasured national monuments. The federal agencies have gone to the trouble of developing alternative plans that would prioritize protecting monument objects and natural and cultural resources, then stated that they prefer other approaches. Even more disturbing, lands that have been illegally cut out of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument would now be thrown open to drilling and mining for coal, oil, gas and other minerals, with little regard for the true values of these irreplaceable lands. On top of that, these plans are being rushed through at an unprecedented pace while a court reviews legal challenges to President Trump’s invalid attempts to dismantle our national monuments. This is not acceptable and we will not accept it. We will continue fighting any and all efforts to undermine the Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments.” Stephen Bloch, Legal Director, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance “The BLM’s proposed management plan for the lands President Trump unlawfully carved out of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is not only illegal, but sets the stage for the destruction of this unique landscape that has been protected for more than two decades. The BLM’s preferred alternative would open this remarkable place to new oil and gas leasing, mining, and off-road vehicle damage. To quote the BLM directly from the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, their preferred alternative would ‘conserve the least land area for physical, biological, and cultural resources … and is the least restrictive to energy and mineral development.’ Places like the Circle Cliffs region along the Burr Trail and Wolverine Loop Roads and the Vermilion Cliffs east of Kanab are now in the crosshairs and at immediate risk of being irreparably destroyed. Even the lands that Trump left as national monuments would be managed in a way that is less protective than they currently enjoy. The plan for Bears Ears National Monument is equally bad, prioritizing consumptive uses such as grazing and logging and failing to protect cultural resources and wilderness-quality lands. SUWA won’t rest until Trump’s unlawful orders are overturned and will do everything in our power to ensure that these plans are never implemented.” [1] Combined total, “Estimated Total Lead Agency Costs Associated with Developing and Producing this Document” $1,160,004 for Grand Staircase-Escalante, and $755,000 for Bears Ears. # # #

On December 28, 2016, President Obama used his authority under the Antiquities Act to permanently protect two new national monuments: Bears Ears National Monument in southern Utah, and Gold Butte National Monument in Nevada. As Brian O’Donnell, executive director of the Conservation Lands Foundation said, “By protecting Gold Butte and Bears Ears as national monuments, President Obama has honored Native American Tribes’ request to safeguard their ancestral lands. Bears Ears National Monument will ensure the elevated role for Tribes in management that they have long deserved.”