“We have fallen heirs to the most glorious heritage a people ever received, and each one must do his part if we wish to show that the nation is worthy of its good fortune.”– Theodore Roosevelt
That heritage of which President Teddy Roosevelt spoke includes the wondrous landscapes upon which the United States were built. Many of which have become federally protected and guarded for public use for generations to come in the hope that we, citizens of the United States will do our part to preserve that heritage– especially in the American West.
However, in recent years the nation has become embroiled on how to use the gargantuan amount of public land in the west.
After much speculation as to how we should use our public lands, a recent poll done by Colorado College is showing a distinct opinion by a majority of residents in western states. The results showed that a large majority of rocky mountain dwellers believe that public lands should be preserved for future use.
The poll, titled The 2016 Conservation in the West Poll, indicates that 80% of western residents want to preserve public lands as national monuments.
That opinion stands in stark contrast to legislation proposed by republican senators to sell off our national forests. Adversely, a national monument designation, which can be mandated by the President, protects certain areas from certain development plans. According to the study that move would be largely supported, especially in areas such as the Grand Canyon and Utah’s Bear Ears.
Whether or not legislation will reflect the public voice, is yet to be seen.
In order to protect our national landscapes sign the petition to prevent elected officials from selling off our heritage to the highest bidder.