SF Gate: Trump admin mulls shrinking, mining national monuments in secret document
For conservationists, cost isn’t the only factor that should prevent resource extraction on public lands.
“Once designated, national monuments become integral parts of their communities’ economic and social fabric, driving tourism and elevating access to recreation,” Kelly Herbinson, conservation biologist and executive director of Mojave Desert Land Trust, said in a statement after Burgum issued his order. “... Public lands are also an important buffer against urbanization.”