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guide. National monuments are some of our nation's most controversial lands.

On April 26, 2017, President Trump signed an executive order

to review 27 national monuments,

calling them, quote, superstitious land grabs and an abusive use of the Antiquities Act,

suggesting he might reduce or abolish them completely. He went on to issue proclamations

that reduced to national monuments, Grand Staircase Escalante and Bears ears, and shortly thereafter President

Biden reinstated the former boundaries of both monuments when coming to office.

I'm Jason Epperson and today on America's National Parks we talk with Mackenzie Long

whose book This Contested Land, The Storied Past and Uncertain Future of America's National Monuments, shares her visit. the It's an eye-opening exploration of the stories these natural sites tell, the passions they stir, and the controversy surrounding them today.

Rather than sharing a politically charged argument, she tries to get to the heart of the conflict.

She provides readers with her personal experience recreating in these spaces

and talking with those who care for them.

She describes volunteering near the most contaminated nuclear site in the U, skiing to a backcountry hut in Maine to see a truly dark night sky, snorkeling in warm Hawaiian waters, and talking to people about their love for the Rio Grande.

She discusses issues of climate change, indigenous history and rights, and the tensions between

economic development and environmental conservation, all while bringing to life the complicated and often overlooked stories of national monuments in a way that's timely, relevant, and even urgent.

Mackenzie, welcome to the podcast.

Thanks for having me.

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