The Trump administration signed an executive order on July 13, 20 days old, intended to dismantle the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments in Southern Utah. The order eliminates nearly 3 million acres of protections across both monuments, according to a press release from the Sierra Club.
Impact on Tribal Sovereignty
The executive order seeks to undo decades of conservation efforts designed to protect the landscapes. The Sierra Club stated that the administration's action undermines the historic federal and intertribal collaborative management authority established for Bears Ears, as well as the landmark Tribal co-stewardship framework utilized for Grand Staircase-Escalante.
By reducing these protections, the administration is accused of defying the sovereignty of Native Nations and neglecting the federal government’s duty regarding Tribal consultation. The Sierra Club noted that since 2017, the administration has engaged in ongoing attempts to industrialize and privatize public lands.
Economic and Legal Challenges
The reduction of protected acreage affects areas that local advocacy groups, Indigenous communities, and outdoor businesses rely upon for economic stability and quality of life. The Sierra Club highlighted that these lands are vital for local economies, drinking water, and the preservation of wildlife.
In response to the administration's recent actions, Tribes and various conservation and outdoor business groups have filed challenges in federal court. According to the Sierra Club, those lawsuits regarding the administration's previous and current actions against the monuments remain pending.
Criticism from Sierra Club
Franque Bains, the Chapter Director of the Sierra Club in Utah, criticized the administration's decision to use these landscapes as political leverage. Bains stated that the current political back-and-forth jeopardizes culturally significant landscapes and wildlife in favor of prioritizing industry and privatization.
"Decisions like the ones made today aren’t aligned with what Utahns want to see for the future of these beloved national monuments," Bains said. He added that the landscapes deserve lasting protections that reflect their value and prevent them from being commodified.
Ongoing Conservation Efforts
The Sierra Club, which identifies as America’s largest grassroots environmental organization, continues to use legal action and activism to advocate for the protection of these wild places. The organization maintains that the removal of protections threatens the ability of individuals to explore open spaces and access nature.
