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The White House is moving forward judiciously in pursuing President Biden’s goal of conserving 30% of the nation’s land, fresh water and ocean areas by 2030. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland delivered her report on the 30x30 initiative at the end of April. A statement of core principles followed, signed by the four Cabinet members charged with “fulfilling the conservation vision” of the president. While we don’t know specifics, Haaland’s report surely includes significant recommendations for Utah’s red rock country.
If America is truly committed to 30x30, we’ll need to protect vast portions of the Colorado Plateau, the canyon country spanning the Four Corners between the Rockies and the Southwest deserts. In southern Utah, park planners have recognized the worthiness and wildness of these one-of-a-kind canyonlands ever since they proposed a gigantic Escalante National Monument in the 1930s.
Biden unveils plan to conserve 30% of the U.S.
With plenty of beautiful public land, will Utah play an outsized role in reaching the goal?
(Leah Hogsten | Tribune file photo) Scenic landscapes like Utah s San Rafael Swell, seen in this 2010 photo shot from the Wedge Overlook, are expected to play a role in President Joe Biden s ambitious conservation agenda that looks to protect 30% of the nation s lands and waters by 2030.
| May 8, 2021, 12:00 p.m.
President Joe Biden’s land and water conservation plan, released Thursday under the title “America the Beautiful,” highlights a preference for locally driven initiatives, tribal sovereignty, job creation, respect for private property rights and reliance on science all things that seem tailored to blunt the concerns of the West’s conservative political leaders who reflexively chafe at development restrictions on public lands.
TravelAwaits
May.7.2021
Located in Northern Arizona just minutes from the Utah border, the city of Page is the perfect base for outdoor lovers looking to explore the region. No matter which direction you drive, you’ll find scenic and otherworldly sites, from the colorful rock formations of Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument to the rushing waters of Lees Ferry. This is a photographer’s paradise full of grand vistas just waiting to be captured.
I recently had the opportunity to explore much of the region surrounding Page with my sister, Beth. We packed seven sites into one long day and enjoyed every minute of it. And believe it or not, we weren’t able to see everything. Our home base for two nights was the lovely Hyatt Place Page/Lake Powell, which is central to all the sites described below. After a long day of sightseeing, it was great to return to a comfortable and stylish hotel.