Local Business Owners Concerned Over Potential National Monument Changes

"We've been talking to business owners in communities adjacent to national monuments, and the designations are the economic engines of their communities," said Christian Beckwith, founder of the Center for Jackson Hole and director of its upcoming SHIFT Festival, which brings stakeholders for public lands together for three days in November to make the business case for public lands.

Suzanne Catlett, president of Escalante and Boulder Chamber of Commerce is deeply concerned that recommended changes to Grand Staircase-Escalante will slow the economic benefits of the region and send a message to locals that the current administration is not listening to American citizens' pleas to leave the areas as they were designated.

"The greatest benefits to gateway communities are two-fold: economies grew, and continue to grow, after designation of the spectacular wilderness Monument areas, and millions of people have a memorable experience outdoors visiting these areas," said Catlett.

When it comes to Bears Ears National Monument, Willie Grayeyes, Utah Diné Bikéyah Board Chair, is concerned reductions to the Monument boundaries will impact the future tribal people, whose ancestors have dwelled in and around Bears Ears for millennia, envisioned for both land protection and building a sustainable economy for their children and grandchildren.

"Any and all recommendations by Secretary Zinke regarding Bears Ears National Monument are fundamentally flawed because the Secretary never took the time to meet with and listen to local Native Americans, despite numerous invitations," said Grayeyes.

SHIFT will begin opening night, November 1, with a special presentation on Utah's Bear's Ears National Monument, with keynotes by Jonah Yellowman, Eric Descheenie and Cynthia Wilson, the tribal leaders who helped create it.

The perspectives of business owners and community leaders from Grand Staircase-Escalante, Organ Peaks-Desert Mountains and Bears Ears national monuments, among others, will be showcased at SHIFT on November 2, in a panel that focuses on The Designation Effect: How the economies of national monument gateway communities around the country have been impacted by the designations.

On SHIFT's closing night, Lucas St. Clair will keynote a presentation on Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument. St. Clair is the President of Elliotsville Plantation, Inc., a 2017 SHIFT Award Official Selection for its role in the creation of the monument.

"The Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument has led to increased economic stability in the region after only one year of its existence. To threaten the conservation and recreational resource with timber harvesting puts in jeopardy the very thing that is helping the region at such an important time," said St. Clair.

Throughout the duration of the three-day Festival, SHIFT's working sessions will provide a unique opportunity for business leaders to learn how others are successfully harnessing industry voices to advance public land issues. There will also be workshops that will equip attendees with new insights and actionable strategies on how outdoor recreation can reinvigorate local economies.

For more information, tickets, travel and accommodation details, and a complete 2017 SHIFT Festival schedule, please visit http://shiftjh.org/.

Contact: Kerri Dellisanti, [email protected]

SOURCE SHIFT

Related Links

http://shiftjh.org