Trump’s Department of Justice recently reversed a 1938 opinion, ruling that presidents can undo established national monuments. That means even more of Oregon’s cherished public lands, like Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument and the John Day Fossil Beds, are now at risk of being sold off. This is on top of the cuts to National Forest Service and National Parks Service workers that are already having impacts on federally owned public lands and everyone who enjoys them, and the fact that Trump opened up over half of National Forest lands to logging back in April.
Our public lands are the most widely popular thing in our nation, so I know you don’t need me to tell you how special our national public lands are. We all have a connection to them, whether it’s a place that’s on our bucket list or a memory that we have there, our public lands are vital for our environment, ecosystems, and us.
Most of my favorite memories involve hiking, camping, or backpacking through our public lands with my family and friends. My favorite place in Oregon is the Willamette National Forest—a public land that was recently on the sell off list. Without this national forest, I wouldn’t have memories of camping along the Blue River with friends, and accidentally falling asleep on the forest floor on a hike with my dad. I have so many memories of that public land alone, as well as so many others.
That’s why I’m asking you to join me in sharing your public lands story. Your story can be about anything that highlights national public lands, and there are no limits to how short or long it is. These stories on why our public lands matter so much will add fuel to this fight for protecting them.
