Woodrow Wilson signed the act creating the National Park Service in 1916 to protect the 35 existing parks and monuments at the time.

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Only 4 percent of American land is dedicated for national parks versus 10 percent of Costa Rica’s land, a much smaller region compared to the United States. The presence of national parks and monuments establishes areas of natural beauty that every human has the right to experience. It is important now more than ever to protect the natural world.

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Trump has already rolled back habitat protections for endangered species, eased drilling regulations and now wants to use the reduced land for new mineral, oil and gas leasing opportunities. According to National Geographic, President Trump is expected to sign an Executive Order to reduce two Utah national monuments on December 4, 2017. The 1.35-million-acre area of land designated by Barack Obama, Bears Ears National Monument, may be reduced 85 percent. The Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument makes up 1.7 million acres designated by Bill Clinton in 1996. Leaked government documents suggest that the ancient land will be cut in half.

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Many people are more than willing to fight for these lands. Conservation groups are ready to file suit in order to protect Grand Staircase Escalante. This may lead to the monuments’ fate being tied up for months without action. A White House Producer found that Obama is also moving to defend these monuments. He recognizes the importance of protecting this country’s natural, cultural and archaeological resources.

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Tourism is already a primary threat to these national monuments. According to National Geographic, vehicles blast through burial grounds, people graffiti on ancient rock panels and campers use century-old Navajo hogans for firewood. With all of the attention this reduction battle has been receiving, people’s interest in the area has only increased and so has the damage.

On the other hand, tourism in the Grand Staircase Escalante has been managed for 21 years and brings $78 million annually to nearby counties. However, the tourism is not year round. There is worry that the reduction of the monument and presence of drillings rigs and mining plumes will deter tourists. If the scenic views are destroyed and tourists uninterested, it could potentially hurt the economy in the surrounding Utah communities.