National monument designation provides the United States Congress and the President with a unique opportunity to stimulate rural economies.
National monuments protect America’s most treasured lands, helping to guarantee that our prized places remain intact, while ensuring a lasting legacy for future generations. In designating a national monument, lawmakers guarantee the long-term protection of federal lands that possess truly exceptional scientific or historical attributes.
Benefits of National Monument Designation
- Every national monument stands as a source of pride and identity for the country and a benefit to the communities where they rest.
- National monument designation raises the profile of a site, driving new visitors to exceptional public lands that they may not have otherwise visited. Hotels, restaurants, tour guide agencies and local businesses all reap the economic advantages of national monument designation.
- An analysis of 17 national monuments found that in each circumstance the economy of adjacent communities grew after designation. These results confirm that national monument designation is associated with economic growth.
National monuments are a source of rural economic growth