Colorado Residents Respond to Zinke’s Public Lands Recommendations

Denver, CO-- Last night, the Washington Post revealed Sec.Ryan Zinke’s recommendations to alter national monuments around the country-- risking the value and preserved nature of public lands. Despite maintaining Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, Zinke ignored 98% of the 2.8 million Americans who submitted public comments urging the preservation of public lands nationwide. Stripping safeguards for these places is an unprecedented act in American history. The decision puts public lands in key states up-for-grabs for potential drilling, mining and clear-cutting.

In response, Sierra Club Organizer Kim Pope released the following statement:

"This administration constantly puts profits over people and the environment. It’s a true shame Trump’s team would rather benefit a few fossil fuel industry-insiders than valuing the history of diverse cultures, recreation spaces that bring billions of dollars to the American economy and the benefits of public lands for future generations.

“This recommendation is a direct attack on decades of work invested by local communities. Secretary Zinke is actively targeting monuments that tribes worked to protect for decades. The five tribes behind the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition collectively exerted their sovereignty to protect shared cultural resources in Utah. Acknowledging tribal sovereignty in Colorado while ignoring it in Utah just doesn’t make sense.

"Our public lands are the embodiment of our democracy. We have these incomparable gems in the United States where everyone has a duty to protect these landscapes. We should be continuing those conservation efforts for decades to come, not dismantling protections.”