The Grand Canyon Trust Inc

The Grand Canyon Trust, a prominent nonprofit organization, is dedicated to safeguarding the wonders of the Grand Canyon and the Colorado Plateau, while supporting the rights of its native peoples. The Trust's mission is multifaceted and encompasses various aspects of conservation and community engagement.

Through their Cultural Landscapes and Utah Public Lands programs, the Trust strives for change in collaboration with tribal communities and nations. They authentically support tribal leadership and sovereignty, recognizing that partnerships with indigenous communities are essential for the protection and restoration of national monuments. In 2016, the Trust played a significant role in the designation of the 1.35 million-acre Bears Ears National Monument, which marked a significant step forward in their conservation efforts.

The Trust's work is not limited to monument designations. They have been active in advocating for the restoration of monument boundaries, such as Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, which was reduced in size in 2017. The organization has also shifted their focus to the land management planning process underway for both monuments in 2022, supporting intertribal coalitions in developing plans for sustainable management of the landscapes.

The Grand Canyon Trust's Grand Canyon and Energy programs focus on opposing threats to the Grand Canyon and Grand Canyon National Park, including continued uranium mining, inappropriate commercial development, and the degradation caused by bison on the North Rim. In 2022, they worked closely with tribal leaders and park staff to develop a proposal to incentivize increased hiring of native staff at the park.

The organization's work extends beyond monument protection. They have been involved in the largest forest restoration project in the US since 2009, the Four Forest Restoration Initiative, which covers a 2.4 million-acre swath of ponderosa pine forest. The Trust is also working to reduce the risk of severe wildfires, improve watershed health, protect old growth and wildlife habitat, and make forests more resilient to climate change. In 2022, they were able to conduct several restoration projects with volunteers at critical springs and lakes.

The Grand Canyon Trust's Utah Public Lands Program undertakes ecological assessments, restoration projects, and policy initiatives within the three national forests of Utah. They work with stakeholders to address specific ungulate grazing problems, resulting in improved protection for pinyon-juniper forests, native grasses, water, and wildlife. In 2022, they were also able to relinquish and retire a grazing permit, permanently protecting 16,861 acres from livestock degradation.

The organization's commitment to water conservation has grown in 2020, as they prioritized addressing recreation impacts on the Colorado Plateau. They are working with non-profit and tribal allies to develop a new strategy for federal land management decisions regarding recreation management. In 2022, they advocated for improvements in land management planning to better address the impacts of recreation at Grand Staircase-Escalante and Bears Ears National Monuments.