The Economics of National Monuments

Did you know that according to research by Headwaters Economics National Monuments boost the economies of the gateway towns around them? So, what are they and what’s the big deal? Welcome to your GO AZ primer on them!

WHAT ARE NATIONAL MONUMENTS?

National Monuments are designated by Presidents under the power granted to them by the Antiquities Act. Passed by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1906, the Antiquities Act allows presidents to designate monuments that protect cultural, historic, and natural resources on public lands and waters. For 117 years, 18 Presidents – 8 Republican Presidents and 9 Democratic Presidents – have designated more than 130 of these monuments nationwide! 

According to Outdoor Alliance, they’re a big boost to outdoor recreation too. Nationwide, National Monuments have also ended up protecting:

  • 4805 climbing routes on 841 different climbing areas

  • 2872 hiking miles

  • 980 biking miles

  • 81 backcountry ski miles

  • 324 paddling miles

WHAT’S THE PROCESS FOR MAKING ONE?

Typically the community around an area will begin the campaign for designation. Sometimes these advocacy efforts are sustained by the local community members, businesses, and organizations for decades before movement is made on a federal level – these monuments are truly grassroots, collaborative efforts. In addition, before designating a Monument, Presidential Administrations usually engage in substantial stakeholder outreach to make sure the management plan is reflective of what the community wants (see more about that below).

The entire process gives locals a huge amount of control over the final vision for a National Monument.  The control allows Monuments to escape political trading that sometimes results in compromises like loss of recreational access. Meanwhile, local communities and businesses get a huge lift from new Monuments due to diversified business opportunities, increased spending on recreational opportunities, population and visitor growth, stronger employment, and higher per-capita income (source).

No wonder 86% of Arizonans support the continued use of the Antiquities Act by Presidents (source).

HOW ARE NATIONAL MONUMENTS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER PUBLIC LANDS?

Although still federally managed, management plans for National Monuments tend to be much more flexible than those for Wilderness Areas, National Parks, or Wilderness Study Areas, which are created by department rulemakings or legislation. For instance, in the Sonoran Desert National Monument, volunteer fence busters worked with several local organizations as well as federal agencies to successfully aide the endangered Sonoran Pronghorn.

That flexibility is also key for allowing a much wider range of outdoor recreation opportunities.

National Monuments can have activities like:

  • Mountain biking

  • Climbing

  • Camping

  • Skiing

  • Overlanding

  • Boating

NATIONAL MONUMENTS IN ARIZONA

In Arizona, we have 19 incredible National Monuments (and even the Grand Canyon started off as a National Monument)! You’ll probably recognize at least one or two as places your customers love to recreate in:

  • Montezuma Castle National Monument

  • Tonto National Monument

  • Tumacacori National Monument

  • Navajo National Monument

  • Walnut Canyon National Monument

  • Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

  • Pipe Spring National Monument

  • Chiricahua National Monument 

  • Wupatki National Monument

  • Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

  • Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument 

  • Tuzigoot National Monument

  • Agua Fria National Monument

  • Ironwood Forest National Monument

  • Vermilion Cliffs National Monument

  • Sonoran Desert National Monument

A NEW NATIONAL MONUMENT!


After decades of advocacy led by the 13 tribes of the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition, with support from local businesses, organizations, and communities, Northern Arizona got a NEW national monument in 2023! 

The Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni - Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument formally protects 917,618 acres of federal public lands around Grand Canyon National Park from uranium mining and secures its sacred areas and outdoor recreation opportunities for generations to come. Baaj Nwaavjo translates to “where tribes roam” in Havasupai and I’tah Kukveni translates to “our ancestral footprints” in Hopi.

This monument is a BIG win for Arizona’s businesses too and the campaign to create it was supported by many of our members and other local businesses. 

As you read at the top of this page, gateway communities near national monuments usually get a huge lift to diversified business opportunities, increased spending on recreational opportunities, population and visitor growth, stronger employment, and higher per-capita income. Meanwhile, in 2021, the Grand Canyon National Park alone poured $945 million into Arizona’s economy and drew in nearly 4.5 million annual visitors. This Monument will help cement Arizona, and our local businesses, as the outdoor recreation capital of the Southwest.

More than half of Arizonans participate in some kind of outdoor recreation. In 2022, outdoor activities in Arizona such as hiking, bicycling, boating, birdwatching, and rafting in places like the Grand Canyon watershed generate $3.3 billion in wages and salaries, $787 million in state and local revenues, and create 104,000 direct jobs. 

As the voice for Arizona’s local outdoor recreation businesses, GO AZ is excited to thank President Joe Biden, President Joe Biden, Senator Kyrsten Sinema, Congressman Raul Grijalva, & Governor Katie Hobbs for supporting and investing in Arizona’s public lands and outdoor recreation economy!