Sierra Club Statement on Bears Ears Resource Management Plan

SALT LAKE CITY - On Tuesday, January 14, the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service finalized a Resource Management Planfor Bears Ears National Monument. The plan marks a historic achievement for implementing Tribal collaborative management to preserve one of the country's largest national monuments.

The final plan was developed through unprecedented collaboration between the five Tribes of the Bears Ears Commission-the Ute Indian Tribe, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Zuni Tribe, Hopi Tribe, and the Navajo Nation-and federal agencies. Over 20,000 public comments were submitted last year, showcasing widespread support for protecting Bears Ears and emphasizing the importance of Tribal involvement in conservation efforts.

President Obama designated Bears Ears as a national monument in 2016, responding to years of Indigenous action urging protection for this landscape in Utah. As part of the designation, the Bears Ears Commission was created to guide its management. Donald Trump slashed the monument's size by 85% in 2017, but President Biden restored the Monument in 2021.

In response, Jackie Feinberg, Sierra Club's National Lands Conservation Campaign Manager, released the following statement:

"After years of collaboration between Tribes, federal agencies, and key stakeholders, we can celebrate this significant milestone not only for the preservation of Bears Ears, but for the integration of Traditional Indigenous Knowledge into public land management. For years, we've witnessed the detrimental effects of Tribal voices being ignored, but this plan signals a shift towards Indigenous leadership in conservation. As Bears Ears continues to face threats, we are committed to working with the Tribes in advocating for long-term stewardship of the land."

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.