President-Elect Joe Biden’s still-unofficial victory in the 2020 election is likely a good sign for conservation across the United States. With this in mind, our supporters have been asking: “what’s next for Bears Ears?”
On the campaign trail, Biden promised to restore Bears Ears National Monument, halting the attempt by President Trump to reduce Bears Ears by 85%—the largest reduction of protected lands in U.S. history. Biden promised to reinstate Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument as well.
Beyond those strong indications of President-Elect Biden’s future agenda, many questions remain. How long until President Biden takes action? Might he wait to see the outcome of the current litigation, which will determine if future presidents can “unprotect” monuments their predecessors designated? Would President Biden consider expanding Bears Ears to the 1.9 million-acre boundary originally requested by the Tribes? Could there potentially be some sort of congressional solution that would prevent the back-and-forth uncertainty that Bears Ears has already suffered?
We don’t know the answers to those questions right now, but we do know we’ll be hard at work in the months to come. We will advocate for this sacred cultural landscape, support Tribal leadership, and be a voice for local people and the land – serving as reminder that decisions have real consequences on the ground. Friends of Cedar Mesa has unique knowledge of the regional resources, the challenges associated with increasing visitation, and future needs to ensure Bears Ears is preserved for future generations.
On that score, we know that Bears Ears becoming a “political football” once again is likely to have negative consequences. The controversy and publicity over the past few years has resulted in dramatically increased visitation to the area, and all the headlines to come certainly won’t reverse that trend. And, while it’s likely the formal management planning process for a restored Bears Ears will recommence in the months to come, it could be years before robust protections are in place.
Given all this, FCM’s work on the ground is more important than ever. We’ll continue efforts to educate people to Visit with Respect, help agencies implement visitor impact mitigation measures, and monitor cultural and natural resources for damage. We’ll provide all the support we can for Tribal leadership and collaborative management. We’ll continue to seek common ground and encourage all who care for this land to set aside differences and engage in real stewardship.
This is an exciting but also uncertain time for Bears Ears. Advocates and Friends like you are more essential than ever. We’re committed to keeping you up-to-date going forward and hope you’ll continue to work with us on this “lifetime project” of protecting one of the world’s most important cultural landscapes.