S5E22: Morgan Sjogren on the War on Utah's National Monuments

Episode Summary:

This episode covers the recent decision by the Trump administration to drastically reduce the acreage of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monuments in southern Utah. Listeners are will hear the central issues surrounding desert conservation, including potential threats of resource extraction like uranium and coal mining, which loom as monuments face reduction.

The episode features Morgan Sjogren, a writer deeply connected to the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase regions. Through engaging dialogue, Morgan offers her insights as a resident and her reaction to the political maneuvers affecting monuments she holds dear. Her extensive experience in these areas provides an authentic perspective on the importance of protecting these lands. With direct quotes from Morgan emphasizing the emotional and ecological significance of the monuments, this episode serves as an urgent call to action for listeners to engage in conservation efforts and support local advocacy groups.

Key Takeaways:

• The Trump administration has attempted to reduce Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monuments significantly, revisiting actions from its previous tenure.
• Local communities and environmental stewards are mobilizing against the possibility of resource extraction, such as uranium and coal mining.
• Sjogren emphasizes the connectedness of these landscapes, stressing that “landscape scale exploring” is essential to understand the full impact of these reductions.
• Support for on-the-ground groups and active participation in electoral processes are vital to combating these environmental setbacks.

Notable Quotes:

1. "The air is filled with tension, and the noise is mostly online, but outside it's eerily quiet." – Morgan Sjogren
2. "Monuments are one of the most robust protections we have for rivers in this country." – Morgan Sjogren
3. "Vote like this landscape and our lives depend upon it." – Morgan Sjogren
4. "I've been getting to know my riverside neighbors. Both the human and more than human, plant communities, wildlife, tribes, rural Americans, urbanites, farmers." – Morgan Sjogren
5. "Utah delegates have taken actions that disregard their constituents. 75% of Utahns oppose reducing monuments." – Morgan Sjogren

Resources:

• Morgan Sjogren's Website: Glen Canyon Backcountry Club (glencanyonbackcountryclub.com)

• Books by Morgan Sjogren:

  • "Path of Light: A Walk Through Colliding Legacies of Glen Canyon"
  • "Outlandish: Fuel Your Epic"
  • "The Best Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument Hikes"

• Organizations:

  • Grand Staircase Escalante Partners
  • Bears Ears Partnership
  • Conservation Lands Foundation's Petition to leave the monuments alone

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