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We’re taking a look back at 2022, the challenges we faced, the coalitions we helped build, and lands we protected. We’ll also take this opportunity to thank you, our steadfast members and followers. Our thanks goes way beyond words that you can read or hear. In 2023, SUWA celebrates its 40th anniversary. As it has been since those early years in the 1980s, our members and supporters are the heart of the movement to Protect Wild Utah. And as the day-to-day work to protect wild redrock country grinds along slowly, sure progress is being made, step-by-hard-earned-step, and we’re taking the opportunity to focus on that progress in this episode. Thank you to our show supporters! Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Thank you for your support! Become a SUWA member today and support the Wild Utah Podcast Subscribe to Wild Utah on your favorite podcast app! wildutah.info/Stitcher wildutah.info/Apple wildutah.info/Spotify Theme music is by Haley Noel Austin, with interlude music by Larry Pattis. Dave Pacheco is the host of Wild Utah. Post studio production and editing is by Laura Borichevsky.

Bears Ears National Monument has been in the news for years due to its status as a national monument being in flux– and as it finally enters its official planning process, we’re looking to Indigenous leaders to tell us what co-management (and the change in agency culture it could take to make that happen successfully) really mean. A note: It’s at this stage of the planning process that the Bureau of Land Management receives input from the public to prioritize issues they should focus on. The current open comment period (which ends October 31st) is your golden opportunity to help shape the future of the Bears Ears National Monument and echo sentiments put forward by the Indigenous voices leading the way.  Joining us for this essential conversation about the role of Indigenous knowledge and leadership for Bears Ears National Monument and beyond is Regina Lopez-Whiteskunk, whom we’re honored to have on the show. Regina is a fierce advocate for nature who has served as a member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Council. She’s a former co-chair of the Bears Ears Inter-tribal Coalition and helped lead the effort that resulted in the Bears Ears being designated as a national monument. She has been appointed by Department of Interior Secretary Haaland to serve as the Chair of the current Bears Ears National Monument Advisory Committee, and she also serves on SUWA’s board of directors. Take action after this episode! The BLM is accepting comments until 10/31 as part of the scoping process. This is your chance to tell the BLM what issues are important for them to consider as they develop a draft management plan. Comment Today! Thank you to our show supporters! Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Thank you for your support! Become a SUWA member today and support the Wild Utah PodcastSubscribe to Wild Utah on your favorite podcast app! wildutah.info/Stitcher wildutah.info/Apple wildutah.info/Spotify Theme music is by Haley Noel Austin, with interlude music by Larry Pattis. Dave Pacheco is the host of Wild Utah. Post studio production and editing is by Laura Borichevsky.

TAKE ACTION TO SAVE LABYRINTH CANYON: Leave a comment by 10/7!⁠ The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is accepting comments on a draft travel management plan for the iconic Labyrinth Canyon and Gemini Bridges area outside of Moab. The plan will determine where off-road vehicle (ORV) use is allowed in this remarkable landscape for decades to come, so public input is extremely important. ⁠ ⁠ Home to irreplaceable cultural and historic resources, critical wildlife habitat, and unmatched quiet recreational opportunities, the Labyrinth Canyon and Gemini Bridges region is a magnificent area of Utah’s backcountry. The BLM’s travel plan will have a long-lasting impact on the future of this region by determining where ORVs will be able to travel and what areas will be managed for the protection of wildlife, solitude, cultural values and non-motorized recreation.⁠ ⁠ Labyrinth Canyon is a gem of the American West, where the placid Green River flows for more than 40 miles past towering canyon walls. This stretch of river provides an unparalleled multi-day wilderness experience for boaters of all ages and experience levels. It is also a designated Wild and Scenic River, noted for its outstanding recreational, scenic, ecological, and cultural values. ⁠ You can act now by leaving a comment with the BLM by October 7th. It only takes minutes and your voice truly matters on these issues. Head to suwa.org/travelplans where we’ve made it easy to get started, and thank you for taking action.

What’s “GSENM RMP”, anyway? It’s shorthand for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Resource Management Plan. Originally proclaimed by President Clinton in 1996, the almost two million acre monument was slashed in half under former President Trump in 2017. It’s been close to a year since President Biden restored the monument to its original boundaries, and it’s time for his administration to re-write the Trump-era plan and re-emphasize scientific discovery and conservation as the primary purpose of the monument. That also means that it’s time for you to get involved! Our guest is SUWA Wildlands Attorney Kya Marienfeld, who is heading up SUWA’s official comments about Grand Stairacse-Escalante to the BLM. In non-legal terms, she explains the process for monument planning and helps us understand how to effectively engage in making the final plan a guiding document we can all be proud of.  Take Action After this Episode: Have a Say in the Future of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument! Leave your public comment to the Bureau of Land Management by 9/27. Thank you to our show supporters! Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Thank you for your support! Become a SUWA member today and support the Wild Utah Podcast Subscribe to Wild Utah on your favorite podcast app! wildutah.info/Stitcher wildutah.info/Apple wildutah.info/Spotify Theme music is by Haley Noel Austin, with interlude music by Larry Pattis. Dave Pacheco is the host of Wild Utah. Post studio production and editing is by Laura Borichevsky.

Terri Martin, Organizer for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, has lived a life in service to Utah’s wild desert landscapes. In this bonus episode of the Bristlecone Firesides podcast, Terri tells us about the spiritual and ecological value of Utah’s wilderness and what she has learned over the decades of working with SUWA and other organizations that defend sacred landscapes. Take Action After this Episode: Subscribe to the Bristlecone Firesides podcast! Resources: Act now with SUWA Catch up on Season One Utah Diné Bikéyah Thank you to our show supporters! Wild Utah and Bristlecone Firesides are made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Thank you for your support! Become a SUWA member today and support the Bristlecone Firesides Podcast

Where does wilderness show up in literature and spirituality? We’re proud to share 20 minutes of the Bristlecone Firesides podcast to provide some answers to this question.    Great nature writers such as John Muir, Henry David Thoreau, and Aldo Leopold have written extensively that wilderness contains the salvation of mankind. Wilderness is also a recurring spiritual theme in sacred texts throughout the world. What is this Wilderness and why is it crucial to our spiritual growth? What can we learn about ourselves from understanding this Wildness? Join co-hosts Madison Daniels and Abigail Pinegar to dig in with this engaging conversation that gets to the heart of what draws some individuals to wilderness conservation. Take Action After this Episode: Subscribe to the Bristlecone Firesides podcast! Resources: Act now with SUWA Catch up on Season One 30×30 Campaign The Wilderness Act How to Do Nothing by Jenny Odell From Wild Man to Wise Man by Richard Rohr Thank you to our show supporters! Wild Utah and Bristlecone Firesides are made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Thank you for your support! Become a SUWA member today and support the Bristlecone Firesides Podcast

Do two things this summer to feel good: get out into redrock wilderness for a visit, and get involved in demanding respect for la tierra. Carlos Prado (@Outdoorlos) joins us to give some tips. https://www.instagram.com/outdoorlos/ For more information: https://suwa.org/utah-silvestre/ You can also text the word UTAH SILVESTRE to 52886 to receive occasional text notifications about redrock wilderness en español and Latinx herencia y querencia of our public lands. Host: Olivia Juarez Production: Laura Borichevsky Music: Kevin MacLeod

Haga dos cosas este verano para sentirse bien: visita a tierra salvaje de roca roja, e involúcrese en exigir respeto por la tierra. Carlos Prado (@Outdoorlos) se une a nosotras para dar consejos.  Para más información: https://suwa.org/utah-silvestre/ Envíe un mensaje de texto con la palabra UTAH SILVESTRE al 52886 para recibir notificaciones de texto ocasionales sobre la Utah silvestre en español y herencia latina y querencia de nuestras tierras públicas. Presentador de podcasts: Amy Dominguez Producción: PROArtes Mexico Música: Kevin MacLeod

Latinos have called Utah home since before our gente were called Latino. We speak with University of Utah Professor Armando Solórzano to learn about the long history.  https://collections.lib.utah.edu/details?id=1179313&page=2&facet_setname_s=dha_latino For more information: https://suwa.org/utah-silvestre/ You can also text the word UTAH SILVESTRE to 52886 to receive occasional text notifications about redrock wilderness en español and Latinx herencia y querencia of our public lands. Host: Olivia Juarez Production: Laura Borichevsky Music: Kevin MacLeod

Latinos han llamado Utah a la patria antes de que nuestra gente fuera llamada latina. Hablamos con el Profesor Armando Solórzano de la Universidad de Utah para conocer la historia larga. https://collections.lib.utah.edu/details?id=1179313&page=2&facet_setname_s=dha_latino Para más información: https://suwa.org/utah-silvestre/ Envíe un mensaje de texto con la palabra UTAH SILVESTRE al 52886 para recibir notificaciones de texto ocasionales sobre la Utah silvestre en español y herencia latina y querencia de nuestras tierras públicas. Presentador de podcasts: Amy Dominguez Producción: PROArtes Mexico Música: Kevin MacLeod y opo

Focusing on the ways that wilderness benefits the climate, wildlife, or your own community’s wellness on a daily basis with the Co-Director of Uplift, Lyrica Maldonado. https://upliftclimate.org/ For more information: https://suwa.org/utah-silvestre/ You can also text the word UTAH SILVESTRE to 52886 to receive occasional text notifications about redrock wilderness en español and Latinx herencia y querencia of our public lands. Host: Olivia Juarez Production: Laura Borichevsky Music: Kevin MacLeod

Enfocamos en las maneras en que la tierra silvestre beneficia la clima, la vida silvestre, y bienestar de comunidad a diario con Codirectora de Uplift, Lyrica Maldonado. https://upliftclimate.org/ Para más información: https://suwa.org/utah-silvestre/ Envíe un mensaje de texto con la palabra UTAH SILVESTRE al 52886 para recibir notificaciones de texto ocasionales sobre la Utah silvestre en español y herencia latina y querencia de nuestras tierras públicas. Presentador de podcasts: Amy Dominguez Producción: PROArtes Mexico Música: Kevin MacLeod y Tim O'Keefe

What are federally "owned" lands? What does BLM have to do with wilderness? Get the answers with former Utah State Representative and SUWA Board Member Rebecca Chavez-Houck. For more information: https://suwa.org/utah-silvestre/ You can also text the word UTAH SILVESTRE to 52886 to receive occasional text notifications about redrock wilderness en español and Latinx herencia y querencia of our public lands. Host: Olivia Juarez Production: Laura Borichevsky Music: Kevin MacLeod

¿Cuáles son tierras en la propiedad del gobierno? ?¿Cuál es la relación entre BLM y tierra silvestre? Obtenemos las respuestas con anterior Representativa del Estado de Utah, y miembro del consejo de SUWA, Rebecca Chavez-Houck. Para más información: https://suwa.org/utah-silvestre/ Envíe un mensaje de texto con la palabra UTAH SILVESTRE al 52886 para recibir notificaciones de texto ocasionales sobre la Utah silvestre en español y herencia latina y querencia de nuestras tierras públicas. Presentador de podcasts: Amy Dominguez Producción: PROArtes Mexico Música: Kevin MacLeod

The heart behind activism can sometimes be overlooked– but it’s often what grounds us in why we do this work. That couldn’t be more true for the Episcopal Diocese of Utah. This spring, they passed a Resolution in support of America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act (ARRWA) and Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments. The church’s support benefits future generations of Americans and show respect for Indigenous people with ties to the land, and it furthers action to combat climate change and stem the global loss of biodiversity by protecting habitat for all living beings.⁠ Joining this episode to discuss the importance of this resolution as one component of protecting all living things are three people from the Episcopal Church in Utah:  the Very Reverend Tyler Doherty, the Dean & Rector at St Mark’s Cathedral; Ron Barness, a longtime member of St Mark’s who serves on the vestry and is chair of the Creation Care sub-committee for the Episcopal Diocese of Utah; and Forrest Cuch, a Ute tribal Elder, Senior Warden at St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church in Whiterocks, Utah, and a member of the Creation Care sub-committee.  Take Action After this Episode: Sign up to stay in the loop on redrock news and actions from SUWA! Thank you to our show supporters! Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Thank you for your support! Become a SUWA member today and support the Wild Utah Podcast Subscribe to Wild Utah on your favorite podcast app! wildutah.info/Stitcher wildutah.info/Apple wildutah.info/Spotify Theme music is by Haley Noel Austin, with interlude music by Larry Pattis. Dave Pacheco is the host of Wild Utah. Post studio production and editing is by Laura Borichevsky.

Since its inception a few years back, SUWA’s Stewardship Program has aimed to foster a stewardship ethic and promote service as recreation in Utah through opportunities to work directly and actively to preserve and enhance the wilderness character of Utah’s public lands.  So what does all of that mean– for volunteers, and for the redrock wilderness? Tune in to find out! You’ll be transported to a recent stewardship project in the Canyon Rims area (featuring voices from a couple inspiring University of Utah Alternative Break students) while hearing all about SUWA’s stewardship philosophy from one incredibly dynamic duo: Stewardship Director Jeremy Lynch and Stewardship Coordinator Jack Hanley.  Take Action After this Episode: Sign up to stay in the know about future Stewardship Projects this season and beyond! Check out the SUWA Stewardship Project Calendar here! Thank you to our show supporters! Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Thank you for your support! Become a SUWA member today and support the Wild Utah Podcast  A special thank you for this episode also goes to the U of U Alternative Break crew who joined us for a one-day project that helped to create the in-the-field audio you hear on this episode. Subscribe to Wild Utah on your favorite podcast app! wildutah.info/Stitcher wildutah.info/Apple wildutah.info/Spotify Theme music is by Haley Noel Austin, with interlude music by Larry Pattis. Dave Pacheco is the host of Wild Utah. Post studio production and editing is by Laura Borichevsky. A transcript of this episode can be found here.

How do we balance off-road vehicle use with the critical need to protect southern Utah’s redrock wilderness? Anyone who visits southern Utah will inevitably hear the whine of off-road vehicles (ORVs) and see how their use has scarred the landscape. In southern Utah especially, the recent exponential growth of ORV recreation has led to stream erosion and water pollution, dust and soil erosion, destruction of wildlife habitat, damage to archaeological sites and cultural resources, and increased conflicts between public land users. Travel management is one tool that can help us to take part in the creation of thoughtful, balanced plans that provide access– not excess– when it comes to off-road vehicle use and mitigate impacts to wilderness. Tune in to hear all about it (including how you can take action right now!) from SUWA’s ORV Policy Fellow, Kelsey Cruickshank.  Take Action After this Episode: Comment now on the scoping plans for Paunsaugunt (Kanab, UT) travel management area! Sign up to receive action alerts from SUWA so you can participate in upcoming comment periods for ORV use on Utah’s public lands! Thank you to our show supporters! Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Thank you for your support! Become a SUWA member today and support the Wild Utah PodcastSubscribe to Wild Utah on your favorite podcast app! wildutah.info/Stitcher wildutah.info/Apple wildutah.info/Spotify Theme music is by Haley Noel Austin, with interlude music by Larry Pattis. Dave Pacheco is the host of Wild Utah. Post studio production and editing is by Laura Borichevsky. A transcript of this episode can be found here.

The oil & gas leasing, drilling and cleanup program in the United States is a mess– needing serious reform, time and money to fix. During the 2020 presidential election, Joe Biden made some encouraging statements and promises to address the climate crisis. in particular, Mr. Biden promised to wind down oil & gas leasing and drilling on public lands in the U.S. So where do things stand one year later, especially in Utah? To answer that question and explore the administration’s ongoing efforts to reform this broken program, we are joined by SUWA Staff Attorney Landon Newell. Take Action After this Episode: Sign up to receive alerts from SUWA so you can participate in petitions, keep up to date on oil & gas leasing news, and take other actions to support oil & gas reform! Resources: Story Map: The Pause on New Oil & Gas Leasing in Utah: One Year Later Thank you to our show supporters! Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Thank you for your support! Become a SUWA member today and support the Wild Utah PodcastSubscribe to Wild Utah on your favorite podcast app! wildutah.info/Stitcher wildutah.info/Apple wildutah.info/Spotify Theme music is by Haley Noel Austin, with interlude music by Larry Pattis. Dave Pacheco is the host of Wild Utah. Post studio production and editing is by Laura Borichevsky. A transcript of this episode can be found here when this link becomes active.

What happens when new land protections and wilderness are designated? While every land management journey is different, one thing's for sure: the devil's in the details.⁠ ⁠ The latest episode of Wild Utah looks at this process through 663,000 acres of land recently designated as wilderness through the 2019 John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, Congress passed the Emery County Public Land Management Act. Among other things, this act created 17 new wilderness areas, the San Rafael Swell Recreation Area, and three Wild and Scenic segments on the Green River. ⁠ ⁠ As a result of these new designations, there are a lot of details to consider. And because the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) must update its management plan for each of the affected areas-- which includes input from the public-- it's a process that will take well over a year to complete. ⁠ ⁠ So, what's the importance of this process? What do we want to see happen in following through with these new wilderness protections? And when and how do we contact the BLM about all of this to make our voices heard? SUWA Wildlands Attorney Judi Brawer joins us in this highly informative episode that we can all look to as a guide.⁠ ⁠ Take Action After this Episode: Sign up to receive action alerts from SUWA so you can participate in the next phase of the commenting process! Thank you to our show supporters! Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Thank you for your support! Become a SUWA member today and support the Wild Utah PodcastSubscribe to Wild Utah on your favorite podcast app! wildutah.info/Stitcher wildutah.info/Apple wildutah.info/Spotify Theme music is by Haley Noel Austin, with interlude music by Larry Pattis. Dave Pacheco is the host of Wild Utah. Post studio production and editing is by Laura Borichevsky. A transcript of this episode can be found here.

On December 4th, the state of Utah issued a multi-million dollar contract bid, furthering their plans to file a lawsuit challenging the restoration of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments, possibly all the way to the Supreme Court. ⁠ ⁠ The state was clearly not listening to the people.⁠ ⁠ Two days prior, on December 2nd, Tribal and Indigenous community leaders, in addition to people from across Utah, protested at the state Capitol to discourage the irresponsible misuse of state tax dollars. ⁠ ⁠ Tune into the latest episode of the Wild Utah podcast to hear each of the speakers from that night, recorded live at the Capitol:⁠ ⁠ • Malcom Lehi, Councilman of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe and Co-Chair of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition ⁠ • Timothy Nuvangyaoma, Chairman of the Hopi Tribe⁠ ⁠ • David Filfred, Co-Chair of Utah Diné Bikéyah ⁠ • Olivia Juarez, Latinx Community Organizer for SUWA⁠ ⁠ • Brooke Larsen, Utah community activist, organizer, & writer⁠ ⁠ Take Action After this Episode: Send a message to Utah Governor Cox and Attorney General Reyes to let them know that pursuing this lawsuit would be another monumental mistake! Resources: Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition Statement on Bears Ears National Monument restoration  Utah Diné Bikéyah  SUWA Statement on Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument restorations Learn more about SUWA’s stance on Bears Ears here Learn more about SUWA’s stance on Grand Staircase-Escalante here Highlights In the News:  KSL: ‘Stop the attacks’: Tribal leaders, activists plead for end to ‘political football’ over Utah monuments Salt Lake Tribune: Utahns gather at State Capitol to protest Attorney General’s lawsuit against Bears Ears National Monument restoration Salt Lake Tribune: Utah Attorney General’s office selects law firm in legal challenge over Bears Ears and Grand Staircase monuments KSL: Utah AG's Office picks national law firm to assist in potential monuments lawsuit Thank you to our show supporters! Wild Utah is made possible by the contributing members of SUWA. Thank you for your support! Become a SUWA member today and support the Wild Utah PodcastSubscribe to Wild Utah on your favorite podcast app! wildutah.info/Stitcher wildutah.info/Apple wildutah.info/Spotify Theme music is by Haley Noel Austin, with interlude music by Larry Pattis. Dave Pacheco is the host of Wild Utah. Post studio production and editing is by Laura Borichevsky. A transcript of this episode can be found here.