The politics of palaeontology: the creation, reduction, and restoration of Grand Staircase–Escalante and Bears Ears national monuments

Abstract

Grand Staircase–Escalante and Bears Ears are tracts of U.S. federal lands in Utah that were designated as national monuments in 1996 and 2016 respectively in part for the importance of their geological and palaeontological resources. In the 25 years since it was established, Grand Staircase–Escalante became known as the “science monument” for its strong emphasis on palaeontological science, including coordinating activities of its palaeontological manager. Synthesis of the hundreds of research papers there transformed scientific understanding of Mesozoic ecosystems. Before a management plan could be implemented at Bears Ears National Monument, President Donald Trump reduced the boundaries of both monuments to less than half their originally designated area. His action was arguably the first major rollback of palaeontological resources in the United States, underscoring the position of palaeontological science in the political debate about federal lands. Palaeontologists joined Native American tribes, conservation groups, and businesses in a joint effort to re-establish the monuments, an effort that was partially realised when President Joseph Biden restored their boundaries in 2021 but was not immediately able to reinstate previous management priorities. The palaeontological significance of these national monuments intersects with many other perspectives on the value and use of these lands, including indigenous and religious groups who faced oppression, the conservation of wilderness, economic and industrial development, and political struggle between state and federal, and executive and legislative aspects of government. This article explores the scientific significance and political context of the palaeontology of these two monuments as an example of how scientific priorities intersect with other societal pressures in the management of public lands.