Utah Files Suit to Roll Back Protections for Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante
Photo credit: Jasper Gibson
On Wednesday, the state of Utah and two Utah counties announced they were filing a lawsuit against the Biden administration’s recently reinstated protections for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments.
Native American Tribes have been stewarding these lands since time immemorial and more recently advocated for their protection through Bears Ears National Monument, designated by President Obama in 2016. Outdoor Alliance and its partners, including the Access Fund, have been vocal in our support of the Tribes and of permanent protections for both Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, which have outstanding outdoor recreation. Bears Ears, in particular, has world-renowned climbing opportunities, and the climbing community has been actively engaged in advocating for protecting it and defending against President Trump’s rollbacks in 2017.
Louis Geltman, Outdoor Alliance’s Policy Director, said, “Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments are incredibly important areas. Indigenous communities have led the protection of these landscapes, particularly Bears Ears, and it is imperative that the rights of these communities and their connection to landscapes they have stewarded since time immemorial be respected. These areas also support unique conservation and outdoor recreation values, and the outdoor recreation community will continue to vigorously support their protection. The state’s recent decision to pursue a misguided and offensive lawsuit, is deeply unfortunate.”
Outdoor recreation is incredibly important to Utah, and the state of Utah aggressively markets the vast recreation opportunities available on Utah’s protected public lands and waters, noting that Utah is “known for many amazing outdoor activities” and has “five national parks, 44 state parks, nine national monuments, five national forests and two national recreation areas.”
Despite building its identity and tourism industry around recreation, the state of Utah and many of its lawmakers have worked to undermine protections for public lands and waters. This lawsuit is the most recent step in the state’s attack on protect public lands, which flies in the face of what Utah outdoor enthusiasts, local businesses, and Tribes want for these landscapes.
“This move by Utah is totally out of step with what the outdoor community wants for this incredible landscape,” says Access Fund Executive Director Chris Winter. “When Access Fund asked the climbing community, 95% wanted to see Bears Ears restored or expanded. Climbers will continue to defend Bears Ears and support the Tribes who have led this campaign from the beginning.”
The outdoor recreation community has worked tirelessly to protect Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, which have been at risk of extraction and development and would be further in jeopardy if Utah succeeded in stripping away protections. We have been supportive of national monument designation, worked in coordination with Access Fund and other partners on a lawsuit when President Trump rolled back protections, and were present at the recent proclamation signing when President Biden reinstated protections for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments. Outdoor Alliance and our partners will continue to defend these special places and ensure they are protected for generations to come.