On September 18, 2021, the BLM celebrated the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument (GSENM) with a two-hour long live Zoom broadcast unveiling a new web page for its 25th anniversary.
“The Monument deserves to be revered for its unprecedented contributions to conservation,” Paria River District Manager Harry Barber said. “As a wildlife biologist and land steward for nearly 30 years, I believe cooperation with our partners has helped support these conservation efforts, while supporting economic development in its gateway communities.”
“Today, we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument – BLM’s first national monument,” Utah State Director Greg Sheehan said. “And for all the tomorrows, we celebrate the Monument’s future as a ‘living laboratory’ and ‘working landscape’ that provides unparalleled opportunities for science, preservation of ancient cultural histories and recreation for the American people.”
GSENM Manager Vicki Taylor spoke about the celebration and the monument by saying, “As popularity of the Monument continues to grow, we must remain vigilant in working together to find creative solutions to meet the needs that multiple-use and increased recreation require, while still protecting these public lands for the benefit of all Americans.
“Our celebration activities are designed to remind us that even though we are here for just a blip in time, our conservation efforts and our actions will have long-lasting effects for many generations to come. It can be humbling when you stop to think about the complexities that good stewardship of public land resources entails.”
The new website has great offerings for those interested in exploring the monument in person or even abroad. It has a spotlight on the artist in residence, virtual photo tour of popular places to visit, and a host of other informational links about the monument. The new website can be found at https://www.blm.gov/national-conservation-lands/utah/gsenm-25-anniversary.
