FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, January 11, 2016
Contact: Virginia Cramer, Sierra Club, 804-519-8449, Virginia.cramer@sierraclub.org
Kelly Burke, Grand Canyon Wildlands Council, 928-606-7870, Kelly@grandcanyonwildlands.com
Katie Davis, Center for Biological Diversity, 801- 560-2414, kdavis@biologicaldiversity.org
New Polling Confirms Strong Support for Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument, Public Lands
PHOENIX, AZ-- At an event with former Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, the Colorado College State of the Rockies Project today released the results from its 2016 Conservation in the West poll. The findings clearly illustrate the importance of public lands to people living in the West. Within Arizona, the poll found strong support (73%) for a proposal to designate the public lands surrounding the Grand Canyon as a Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument. Further, the findings reveal a desire by Arizonans for future presidents to continue the country's conservation legacy by protecting existing public lands as national monuments (84% support). Bolstering this opinion is the belief by 73% of Arizonans that national public lands, including national monuments, help the economy.
Late last year Congressman Grijalva and tribal leaders from across Northern Arizona announced support for a Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument, reflecting the long history and deep cultural roots of the region.
In response, members of the Greater Grand Canyon Heritage Coalition issued the following statements.
"The Greater Grand Canyon is crucial habitat for California condors, mountain lions, and a host of other wildlife," said Kim Crumbo, conservation director for Grand Canyon Wildlands Council. “Designation of the area as a new national monument would protect and restore safe passageways for mule deer and other wildlife from Grand Canyon National Park to Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.”
"At every opportunity, residents of Arizona have expressed strong support for permanent protection for the greater Grand Canyon region - now it's time for action," said Katie Davis, public lands campaigner for the Center for Biological Diversity. "We stand with the public and tribal communities in calling on President Obama to permanently protect this precious landscape."
“It is not surprising that Arizonans are strongly supportive of safeguarding public lands around Grand Canyon,” said Sandy Bahr, chapter director for the Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Chapter. “Protecting the communities, wildlands and wildlife in and around Grand Canyon from uranium mining has long been a priority for people across the state and throughout the country. A national monument is an important next step to safeguard this valuable region.”
Learn more about the proposed Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument at www.greatergrandcanyon.org.
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