Officials in southern Arizona are concerned that the Trump administration may roll back protections of a national monument after reports that the region is being considered for resource extraction.
The Pima County board of supervisors voted 4 to 1 to oppose the reduction of Ironwood Forest National Monument west of Tucson.
The 129,000 acre monument is named for the ironwood tree, which provides habitat for animals and plants in the area and can live for nearly a millennia.
The Washington Post reported last month that the administration was mulling rolling back the monument’s status along with that of five other national monuments for energy production.
Baaj Nwaavjo I’itah Kukveni in northern Arizona is reportedly also being considered for reduction.
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