Why the Future of Travel Depends on Protecting Our Public Lands — And Why This Fight Is Personal to Me
This week, the U.S. Department of Justice quietly released a 50-page legal opinion that could have sweeping consequences for conservation and travel. The opinion reverses a long-standing precedent and states that the President of the United States has the legal authority to abolish national monuments—even those previously designated to protect culturally and ecologically significant lands.
For many, this might sound like a legal technicality. But for those of us who work in travel, live near these landscapes, or have spent our lives fighting to protect them, this is something far more urgent. It’s a direct threat to places that fuel sustainable tourism, preserve Indigenous and historical stories, and offer the very experiences travelers seek when they come to explore America’s natural wonders.
Two of the monuments at risk are Chuckwalla National Monument and Sáttítla Highlands, both in California. These were recently designated by President Biden to protect desert ecosystems, tribal sacred sites, and scenic corridors vital to the outdoor and adventure travel economy. The possibility that these lands could be unilaterally stripped of protection isn’t just concerning—it’s heartbreaking.
A Personal Legacy of Conservation
This issue is deeply personal to me. My father, Marc Stirdivant, was a lifelong conservationist and environmental advocate. After a long career in the entertainment industry, he dedicated his later years to preserving the open spaces, habitats, and heritage of Southern California.
He helped lead the successful effort to stop the Oakmont V housing development, preserving vital wildlife corridors in the Verdugo foothills. He served on the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy Advisory Committee, co-founded Glendale-Crescenta VOICE, and played a key role in protecting Tuna Canyon Detention Station—a former WWII incarceration site—by helping secure a National Park Service grant to launch the Only the Oaks Remain memorial exhibit.
He believed, like I do, that these places tell our story—not just of the land, but of the people, the injustices, the resilience, and the beauty that shape who we are.
Why It Matters to Travel
As travel professionals, we often talk about “off-the-beaten-path” experiences, meaningful connection to place, and sustainability. These ideals begin with protected land—spaces that are thoughtfully preserved for exploration, learning, and wonder.
National monuments and public lands aren’t just government designations. They’re places where:
Tour operators create responsible itineraries
Visitors connect with Indigenous cultures and histories
Local economies grow through low-impact tourism
Families make lifelong memories in the outdoors
When those lands are diminished, fragmented, or opened to private development or resource extraction, we don’t just lose nature—we lose experiences, livelihoods, and opportunities for future generations.
What We Can Do
The DOJ ruling doesn’t mean protections are gone—but it opens the door. Now’s the time to act:
Stay informed. Follow organizations like Outdoor Alliance, The Wilderness Society, and Protect Our Winters.
Speak up. Reach out to your representatives. Support legislation that defends the Antiquities Act and resists rollbacks to national monuments.
Support responsible travel. Choose operators and destinations that value conservation. Encourage your clients, guests, and partners to do the same.
Honor the legacy. Whether you're a traveler, a DMO, a guide, or a policymaker—remember that these places don’t protect themselves. It takes intention, community, and advocacy.
My dad taught me that stewardship isn’t passive. It’s active, ongoing, and necessary.
And today, I hope we all carry that message forward—because the future of travel depends on it.
About the Author:
Kimberly Stirdivant Wason is the founder of Lift & Latitude, a strategic consultancy helping travel brands grow through partnerships, PR, and purpose-driven initiatives. She has worked across the travel, tourism, and media industries for over 20 years.
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