Our National Monuments, Our Public Land

President Trump has announced his plans to reduce Bears Ears and Grand Staircase National Monuments this week.

National Monuments are lands that are protected from development by presidents through the Antiquities Act. This Act is the foundation of American conservation legacy.

Mr. Trump is not the first president to shrink our national lands. President Wilson reduced Mt. Olympus and FDR reduced the Grand Canyon monument at the request of ranchers. However, this act will put Mr. Trump in the record books for giving away the most public land.

As upsetting as this must be for many Americans, myself included, I know that there are many groups who will fight this in court, claiming that only Congress can legally shrink a monument.  And there is still time for the public to voice concerns. If Mr. Trump's action is not prevented this will change the landscape of our country forever.

With all of this in the news this week I thought I'd try to turn a positive look at our public lands and the scientists who work in them by highlighting Mary Kay Carson's book, PARK SCIENTISTS: Gila Monsters, Geysers, and Grizzly Bears in America's Own Backyard. This title is part of the well-known Scientists in the Field series published by Houghton Mifflin (my publisher). This well-researched title introduces readers to Yellowstone's grizzly bears, cacti and Gila monsters in Arizona, and fireflies in Tennessee.

Spend some time exploring our public lands -- their beauty, their value, and their protection. 

 Here are a few groups working on protecting our public lands who could use your support:

The Sierra Club

NRDC 

Center for Biological Diversity 

Environmental Defense Fund 

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Nonfiction Picture Book Challenge - The Manatee Scientists

It's always a treat to see a manatee floating by in the Florida waters.  I can remember seeing them on my many visits to Sanibel Island.  It's easy to appreciate their gentle demeanor and peaceful gliding, which is why I was eager to read peter Lourie's book about the scientists working so hard throughout the world to protect them.

Lourie does a thorough job of introducing young readers to the different species of manatees and the scientists studying them.  With countless photographs of wild manatees in Florida, Amazonia and Africa, The Manatee Scientists capturing this unique mammal species.

The Manatee Scientists is part of Houghton Mifflin's famed Scientists in the Field series.  As with all of these titles readers can find details of fascinating field work and thorough research.  It's a great book for budding scientists, conservationists and classroom libraries!