The Trust for Public Land on the Restoration of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments

“For generations of Americans, our national monuments are sacred places that tell the American story in all its array and beauty,” said Diane Regas, President and CEO of The Trust for Public Land. “The restoration of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante as permanently protected national monuments ensures that generations to come can experience and learn our history. Permanent means permanent. The undermining of the Antiquities Act in 2017 should never have happened, and this essential law must never again be subjected to the back-and-forth of political whim. Together, we will work to ensure that our most treasured national outdoor landscapes are protected and accessible to everyone, and represent the vast diversity of the American story.”

The Trust for Public Land has contributed to the protection of more than 6,800 acres of national monuments, visited by millions of people annually, as they connect to nature, experience cultural treasures, and enjoy the outdoors. These monuments have included projects at Bandelier, California Coastal, Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers Boyhood Home, Fort Sumter, Pipestone, Rio Grande del Norte, and Stonewall, demonstrating the depth and breadth of places the Antiquities Act protects and the American stories our national monuments tell. 

Passed by Congress and signed by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906, the Antiquities Act permanently protects land that is determined to be of significant cultural, scientific, or natural value. Without it, places like the Grand Canyon or Zion National Park would never enjoy the level of protection that enables visitors to experience their majesty today.

About The Trust for Public Land

The Trust for Public Land creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. Millions of people live within a 10-minute walk of a Trust for Public Land park, garden, or natural area, and millions more visit these sites every year. To support The Trust for Public Land and share why nature matters to you, visit www.tpl.org.

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