Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve most likely heard that yesterday President Trump moved to drastically (and illegally?!) shrink two of our nations protected monuments- Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante. This decision is the largest reduction of public lands in U.S. history.
Bears Ears National Monument will shrink by nearly 85% (roughly 1.1 million acres) and Grand Staircase Escalante by around 46% (over 800,000 acres). As a result, these lands could potentially be used in the future for activities such as mining, drilling, or motorized vehicle use.
Where does it end..? Hopefully here. Our public lands are a place for hikers, climbers, campers, and all outdoor enthusiasts to play and enjoy the outdoors. We’ve all experienced the incredible trails, canyons and crags this country has to offer, and it’s our job as a community to protect them.
Despite this major loss, we haven’t given up the fight for our nation’s land. Many Native American and environmental organizations plan to take Trump’s decision to court. For us, this means taking every action possible to make our voice heard. If you feel the same, below are a few ways you can dispute this decision and help prevent future rollbacks of protected lands.
Make your voice heard
https://secure.everyaction.com/FeExbHyg7kShkLmFjaZVbw2
Take 5 minutes out of your day to write to your elected representatives. Speak up and voice your opposition to this decision. Each individual voice adds volume to the collective opposition of these actions.
Donate to Bears Ears Education Center Kickstarter
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cedarmesafriends/bears-ears-education-center
About- Duct Tape Then Beer is running this grassroots campaign to raise $100K to contribute to creating a Bears Ears Education Center in Bluff, Utah. Josh Ewing, Bears Ears defender and Executive Director of the not-for-profit Friends of Cedar Mesa, is heading up the effort to purchase, create and staff this Center.
For the last year, visitors have flocked to the region to see one of the newest National Monuments. With increased visitation and recreational use, the best way to protect the cultural and ecological resources is to educate visitors and recreational users.
Sign the Petition
http://www.outdooralliance.org/
To avoid future public land takeovers, take a stand by signing Outdoor Alliance’s petition for protection. Outdoor Alliance is a conservation group dedicated to protecting our nations public lands and ensure those lands are managed in a way that embraces the human-powered experience.
These public lands are meant to be cherished, respected and protected, so not only us but future generations can continue to experience these iconic places.
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Adventure Aide is a mobile app to browse and book outdoor adventures created and led by locals. Download the app and get out there.