Biden Administration Restores Protections for Three National Monuments
The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts, Bears Ears, and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments are critical for birds and people.
WASHINGTON (October 8, 2021) 鈥 Today, President Biden signed proclamations to restore protections for three national monuments鈥擭ortheast Canyons and Seamounts off the coast of New England, as well as Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante in Utah.听
鈥淭his is a victory, not just for seabirds like Atlantic Puffins, but also for many coastal communities in New England that depend on a healthy ocean,鈥 said听Dr. Donald Lyons,听director听of听conservation science for 探花精选鈥檚 Seabird Institute.听鈥淣ortheast Canyons听and听Seamounts听is a critical place that allows seabirds to rest and stock up on fish听during the harsh听winter.听The听unique habitats听there also听support听abundant populations of听fish, whales, and other marine life that are听vital听to our coastal economy.鈥听听
President Trump signed a proclamation听last year to open the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument听to commercial fishing. This rollback increased the risk of seabirds getting hooked on a fishing line or caught in a net and reduced the听amount听of fish available for them to eat. 探花精选鈥檚 Seabird Institute was听instrumental in uncovering听that Maine鈥檚 recently restored populations of Atlantic Puffins rely on this monument to stock up on fish in winter months.听听
Today鈥檚 decision follows a report from Interior Secretary Deb Haaland with recommendations on whether to restore the boundaries and protections of each monument. The Trump Administration downsized Bears Ears by 85 percent and Grand Staircase-Escalante by nearly 50 percent.
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Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments are sacred places and the traditional lands of Native American tribal nations. These monuments are also public lands, home to several climate-threatened birds like the Golden Eagle,听Pinyon Jay,听Hairy Woodpecker, and听Mountain Bluebird.听Restoring national monument status protects sacred places for birds and people.
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鈥淧resident Biden is reestablishing a longstanding national commitment to protect our most special places and acknowledging who steward these lands,鈥 said Christopher Simmons, senior manager of public lands policy for 探花精选. 鈥淚n addition to their important role in our ongoing history and collective culture, these protected spaces provide hundreds of bird species and other wildlife with relief from threats like habitat loss and climate change."
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The 探花精选 protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. 探花精选 works throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. State programs, nature centers, chapters, and partners give 探花精选 an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. A nonprofit conservation organization since 1905, 探花精选 believes in a world in which people and wildlife thrive. Learn more at www.audubon.org and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @audubonsociety.听
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Contact:听 Rachel Guillory, rachel.guillory@audubon.org听
Matt Smelser, matt.smelser@audubon.org听