Recent presidential actions have resulted in the rollback of protections for nearly 3 million acres across Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments. The American public overwhelmingly supports protections for this land (70% of Utah voters and 90% of western voters), yet that has been ignored. The planned use for this land has not been specified, which leaves the door wide open to irreversible industrial destruction. It has been said that the state now has control over the land, but the reality is that it isn't. This is concerning for more reasons than just the irrefutable damage that will be done to this land. These actions also show that our elected officials are not listening to and respecting the voices they promised to by taking office. 

This is a world-class travel destination and already supports a $1.3 trillion tourism industry. Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears are home to countless species of wildlife and plants that rely on this habitat to survive. They are also rich in archaeological sites and dinosaur trackways, holding significant cultural and historical value. I know this firsthand, as for the past eight years, I have been fortunate enough to visit Bryce Canyon for several weeks on end, which overlooks the Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears regions. I can promise you that no one who has taken the time to stand on the rim, looking out at the stunning reds and oranges painted against a gentle blue-gray sky after rain, would want to stand there and instead see the clouds of smoke, jarring factories or mansions, or scarred landscape. 

There is a path forward that benefits all stakeholders. We can advocate for legislative measures that reinforce the protections of these national monuments, ensuring they remain untouched by harmful industrial activity. By doing so, we can balance natural preservation with the economic benefits derived from eco-tourism, which supports local and nationwide communities.

We must call upon policymakers to uphold the protections for these invaluable lands. There are numerous ways to do this, like supporting conservation groups, participating in public forums where policies affecting these areas are discussed, and even just spreading the word to those in our circle. Once this area is damaged, there is no going back. We need to highlight the importance of these landscapes, and our officials need to listen to us and make decisions for the benefit of our generation, as well as the billions to come. While most alive today will not live to see the full extent of consequences for these actions, innumerable more will. 

Join me in this critical effort to ensure that the splendor of Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments is safeguarded for generations to come. Sign this petition and take a stand for the natural wonders we cherish. This planet is our home, the only home we will ever have. We must respect that and take the necessary actions to protect it.

Here is the link to another platform fighting for the protection of this beautiful natural land. It contains a pre-written email(that you can edit) that you can send directly to our Utah representatives: https://www.rei.com/action/network/campaign/monuments

"Our remnants of wilderness will yield bigger values to the nation's character than they will to its pocketbook, and to destroy them will be to admit that the latter are the only values that interest us." - Aldo Leopold