Groups Denounce Gosar Bills to Nullify Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni National and Ironwood Forest National Monuments

Yesterday, Representative Paul Gosar introduced two bills to undermine land protections and the leadership of local Tribes, including one to nullify the nearly one million acre Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, which protects the region from new uranium mining claims and development that could industrialize the landscape. Arizona’s newest national monument and the cultural resources and waters of the region would be at risk under the Gosar bill.

Gosar’s second bill targets the Ironwood Forest National Monument northwest of Tucson. It includes 189,600 acres and is named for the dense population of ironwood trees inside the monument. It is being targeted for possible copper mining. Public lands and national monuments enjoy strong public support in Arizona, including from local communities — Pima and Coconino counties, Flagstaff and Tucson, Tribes, and businesses from around the state.

Conservation, faith and business groups issued the following statements:

“The Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon and Ironwood Forest national monuments protect lands that are culturally significant to Tribal Nations around the state and that help to protect waters and wildlife, including endangered species,” said Sandy Bahr, director of Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Chapter. “We will fight any efforts to remove safeguards for these lands in southern and northern Arizona and continue to support the 14 Tribal nations who have been stewards of the Grand Canyon region and who called for protection of the Baaj Nwaajo I’tah Kukveni as a national monument.”

“This is yet another shortsighted attack on our national public lands that puts industry profits before the interests of the American people,” said Blaine Miller-McFeeley, senior legislative representative with Earthjustice. “Years of work went into creating these national monuments — led by the Tribes, local communities, and businesses that want to see them protected. This systematic and political attempt to destroy our country’s natural and cultural heritage must be vigorously opposed by every member of Congress.”

“Both monuments enjoy deep public support for safeguarding things like cultural sites, globally unique biodiversity, and the Grand Canyon’s precious water,” says Tayor McKinnon, Southwest director with the Center for Biological Diversity. “Gosar’s bills mark a new low in his career of servicing industry’s interests over the public’s.”

“Arizonans and Americans spoke clearly this summer — we have the right to access our public lands. Removing protections for these monuments and turning them over to the mining industry would prevent us from accessing and using them,” said Ellen Montgomery, Great Outdoors Campaign Director, Environment Arizona. “Our wildlife needs large undisturbed habitats to flourish. Both monuments provide room to roam for animals and undeveloped areas for plants to grow. We need more nature in Arizona and we must protect what we have. We urge members of Congress to oppose these bills.”

“Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument was established to provide enduring protection for the essential lands, waters, wildlife, and cultural heritage of Grand Canyon’s rimlands, in response to many decades of advocacy by Tribes, in concert with a broad community of support in Arizona and all across America,” said Kelly Burke, Rewilding Institute’s associate director. “Rep. Gosar’s misleading bill to decimate this broadly popular monument only opens the door to large scale industrial development with associated irreversible harm to springs, streams, precious aquifers, indigenous cultures, outdoor recreation, and wildlife habitat and corridors of the Grand Canyon region. Arizona deserves far better.”

“In Arizona and across the country, our national monuments hold our state’s history, identity, and culture,” said Sanober Mirza, Arizona Program Manager for the National Parks Conservation Association. “NPCA stands with the Tribal Nations who have worked for decades to protect and now defend these regions. Together, Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni and Ironwood Forest tell important parts of the Arizona story, preserving cultural heritage and sustaining wildlife from the Colorado Plateau to the Sonoran Desert. These shortsighted attacks on our monuments would cause lasting harm to Arizona’s landscapes and communities.”

“As people of many faiths, we believe sacred lands are entrusted to our care for the flourishing of all creation,” said Katie Sexton, executive director of Arizona Faith Network. “Representative Gosar’s bills to dismantle protections for Ironwood Forest and Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni monuments dishonor this sacred trust. These landscapes hold profound spiritual meaning for Tribal Nations and communities across Arizona. To exploit them is to betray the call shared across our traditions to protect creation, honor heritage, and safeguard justice for generations yet to come.”

“By introducing bills to nullify the federal protection of Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument and Ironwood Forest National Monument, Arizona Representative Paul Gosar is making it clear that his allegiance is to the billionaires behind the mining industry and not to the protection of our lands and waters or the people of Arizona,” said Dana Orozco, Federal Organizer for Chispa Arizona. “Protecting the areas around the Grand Canyon from uranium mining and other mineral extraction is protecting Arizona’s ground water and the Colorado River against irreversible contamination, protections long-fought for by our Tribes. Our survival is at stake. Shame on Representative Gosar, for this gross promotion of policies that put profit over people.”

“Together Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni and Ironwood Forest National Monuments bring important and hard-won protections to our waters, lands and communities. We strongly oppose any move to poison the Grand Canyon region and the Colorado River with expanded uranium mines. It is time again for all of us to lift our voices against the destruction of these natural and cultural treasures,” said Lynne Westerfield, Executive Director of Wild Arizona.