Analysis touts landscape, night skies at Bears Ears National Monument

A new analysis celebrates the Bears Ears National Monument in Utah for having one of the most ecologically intact landscapes in the West, pointing to the need for continued monument status to protect what's on the ground. Prepared by the Center for American Progress and Conservation Science Partners, the study released this week asserts the Bears Ears region is on par with multiple iconic national parks, including Yellowstone, Glacier, the Grand Canyon and Arches. “The cultural significance of the area is unparalleled, and this study shows that —scientifically and environmentally speaking — Bears Ears has few peers,” said Jenny Rowland, research and advocacy manager for the Public Lands Project at the center.The analysis used 10 ecological indicators comparing Bears Ears to like-sized areas in the West and found it placed in the top 10 percent for ecological intactness, connectivity and night sky darkness. San Juan County is Utah's least populated county, its poorest and largest in size — home to national parks and national monuments that surround much of the Bears Ears region...more