Dec. 29, 2016 - Never heard of Bears Ears? You may be missing one of the western U.S.'s most scenic places. A desert landscape of raw beauty and immeasurable cultural value in Utah, the area known as Bears Ears, has received designation as a national monument by President Obama. The status provides increased protection for the area’s wildlife, as well as for its historic Native American dwellings and petroglyphs. Some people in Utah fear that a ban on new industrial projects in the monument will hurt the region’s economy. But University of Colorado law professor Charles Wilkinson, a prominent advocate for conservation in the Southwest, argues that tourism on protected lands can provide great economic benefits. Wilkinson observes, “There’s always opposition to monuments until people realize what they’ve got.” Video: Friends of Cedar Mesa
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Two New National Monuments Created in Utah and Nevada
