Grand Staircase Escalante Partners
Honor the past and safeguard the future of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and its connected landscapes and watersheds through science, conservation, and education.
The Battle for Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument
Chris Clarke hosts a timely conversation with Dr. Jackie Grant, Executive Director of Grand Staircase Escalante Partners, about the potential impacts of a new congressional effort to overturn the monument’s management plan in this episode of the 90 Miles from Needles: The Desert Protection Podcast
A Living Landscape: the future of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
This film seeks to tell a more complete story of the ecological and cultural importance of Grand Staircase-Escalante — that the entire landscape is an object worthy of protection, as set aside in the original 1996 Presidential Proclamation and affirmed in the 2021 Proclamation. “A Living Landscape” strives to give voice to the land itself, through the people engaged in working on its behalf: tribal members, scientists, guides, educators, business owners, local citizens, and volunteers, each with a unique perspective that comprises a richness rivaled only by the ecology and cultural significance of the Monument itself. Click here to watch.
Union of Concerned Scientists Resource Management Plan Statement
Over 125 local, state, and national groups are calling on congressional leadership to oppose attacks on Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah through use of the Congressional Review Act (CRA). From the coalition letter: “The CRA was never meant to be a blunt instrument to attack public lands, including national monuments. Employing it this way will destabilize land management nationwide, erode public trust, and throw collaboration and long-range planning for public lands into chaos. We urge you to … stand with Tribal Nations, Western communities, and Americans of all political backgrounds who want these lands protected, well managed, and secure for generations to come.” Read the Full Statement
For History
The Monument is home to countless Native American cultural sites, western pioneer history, and the greatest diversity of dinosaur fossils found anywhere on Earth. Since time immemorial, Native American people have inhabited, crossed, lived on, and been stewards of the lands that make up what we now know as Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
For Science
This natural area remains a frontier, a quality that greatly enhances Grand Staircase’s value for scientific study and presents unique opportunities for geologists, paleontologists, archaeologists, historians, and biologists.
About Us
Grand Staircase Escalante Partners is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) founded in 2004 to protect and preserve Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
We are committed to:
- Promoting science, conservation, and education on the Monument.
- Increasing public awareness and understanding of the Monument.
- Providing resources to support the Monument’s scientific, interpretive and educational programs.
- Expanding our membership so we represent a diverse constituency that supports the Monument.
Latest News
November 2025 Newsletter
Time seems to get lost in the chaos these days, but I’ve finally had minute to gather my thoughts for this month’s GSEP newsletter. The government shutdown continues unabated, but we have been in discussions with the BLM about how our new staff can start to help, which brings us to a big welcome for our new staff: Mary Peek, Mackenzie Morgan, and Katie Woodward. Mary and Mackenzie arrived last week, and will lead our Stewardship and Sustainable Visitation Program as Stewardship Project Coordinators based in Kanab (Mary) and Escalante (Mackenzie).
Escalante’s Ancient Desert Drifter
Genetic analysis indicates that the Four Corners Potato was cultivated, transported, and spread by ancient peoples across the Southwest.
Summer 2025 Newsletter
This year continues to be a bit of a rollercoaster ride for us here at Grand Staircase Escalante Partners. The funding for our fabulous programs has been frozen, unfrozen, refrozen, partially released, and now possibly rescinded – just in the first seven months of 2025! Most recently, the U.S. House of Representatives inserted a section into the appropriations bill that would link funding for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument to an outdated management plan from 2020. This action makes it even more difficult for Bureau of Land Management staff to do their work because the Monument is legally bound by a newer management plan that was approved this year. You can learn about the havoc this bill might cause in this recent article on the bill.
