My degree is in environmental biology. I am an environmentalist by nature. I am extremely passionate about our planet and all that it can provide us with. That being said, I want to clarify that I am not close-minded in the realm of politics. I’ve always found it rather humorous when individuals blindly choose a side and succumb to whatever arguments their “side” is advocating for. There are so many issues that our world is facing today and so many specific circumstances that require more than a cut and dry, black or white decision. However, I find the fact that national monuments are now be drastically compromised in the case of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to be absolutely tragic.
Bears Ears National Monument is a significant historical, geologic, and cultural area in Utah. To read more about all that the National Park has to offer you can visit the U.S. National Forest Website. Patagonia has also taken a stand against presidential actions and has devoted a website to educate and encourage others to take action about the event.
In Obama’s Proclamation 9558 of December 28, 2016 he states, “Protection of the Bears Ears area will preserve its cultural, prehistoric and historic legacy and maintain its diverse array of natural and scientific resources, ensuring that the prehistoric, historic and scientific values of this area remain for the benefit of all Americans.”
The national monument retains history. Many Native American tribes rely on the area for cultural rituals. The lands also contain historical information of ancestors and ancient tribes that are fundamental pieces of these Native American tribes today. These cultures are facing social disparities. In The Salt Lake Tribune, Courtney Tanner interviews a council delegate that states, "'The monument is already smaller than the 1.9 million acres the tribes originally requested be set aside,' said Davis Filfred, Navajo Nation Council delegate. 'Any further reduction,' he added, ‘is unacceptable to us.’”
In addition to the historical and cultural significance of the national monument, an immense amount of geological and archaeological history is also present. This information is pertinent for research into our geological past that can help to devise a better understanding of our future. Not to mention, the monument is open for a plethora of recreational activities from backpacking, climbing, trail running, hiking and so much more.
The main disputed argument is the utilization of the Antiquities Act. “The Antiquities Act requires that any reservation of land as part of a monument be confined to the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects of historic or scientific interest to be protected.” While I understand utilizing land for means of economic advancement, certain aspects must be preserved in order to maintain our own standard of living. We must also preserve some means of protecting the integrity of our planet as we are already compromising the Earth in so many ways every day.
In addition, power and superiority cannot be utilized in order to cause social injustices, and we need to accept a variety of cultures and historical backgrounds instead of demolishing them. Once again, the National Monument was already cut back to 1.3 million acres from the original proposed 1.9 million. In Trump’s Presidential Proclamation Modifying the Bears Ears National Monument he writes, “exclude from its designation and reservation approximately 1,150,860 acres of land that I find are unnecessary for the care and management of the objects to be protected within the monument”. There is so much offered in the national monument area and a reduction of such a significant caliber can set such a dangerous precedent.
All of these events foreshadow an even greater risk for National Monuments and Parks. The integrity of these establishments is in the hands of the presidential administration. While there are regulations that protect Bears Ears from mining and drilling, if the administration wins in all of the lawsuits, national land that has previously been protected may eventually become subject to further development. If precedents aren’t set in place now, there could be devastation of public land in the near future.
There are still ways that national lands can be protected. Individuals have such a hard time acknowledging the fact that they are capable of making a change. Reaching out to friends, family and social media to inform the public about issues that you are passionate about can truly make a difference. Furthermore, composing letters to Congress to bring their attention to public opinions can make a difference. One flame is capable of creating a forest fire. If you are passionate about an issue, take charge. Life is too short to stay quiet.
