Grand Staircase-Escalate National Monument | North Fork Preservation Association

Bears Ears National Monument - Bob Wick, BLM-Flickr — Bears Ears National Monument – At 1.35 million acres, it is among the largest national monuments in the country – Bob Wick, BLM-Flickr

The Trump administration just severely reduced the size of the Bear’s Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalate national monuments in Utah. Predictably, tribes and conservation groups reacted with outrage, promptly filing lawsuits to reverse this action.

More than likely, Gold Butte in Nevada and Cascade Siskiyou in Oregon will also be trimmed, not to mention the possibility of rule changes affecting several other monuments. More lawsuits will certainly ensue.

An incredible number of articles have been written on this matter over the past few days. Here’s a short reading list providing useful background and context…

Where Protected Lands Stand After National Monument Review – Flathead Beacon

Was It ‘Illegal’ For Trump To Shrink Utah’s Monuments? The Battle Begins – NPR

7 Facts About the Trump Administration’s Illegal Attack on National Monuments – National Parks Conservation Association

The President Stole Your Lands – a now-famous posting on the Patagonia website