Friends of Cedar Mesa works to ensure that the public lands in San Juan County, with all their cultural and natural values, are respected and protected.

The greater Cedar Mesa area is a sacred and special place, full of natural beauty and rich cultural resources. The area is also faced with many challenges. In the last century, much history has been lost and many unfortunate human impacts have changed the face of the landscape.

We provided funding to The Friends of Cedar Mesa to open the Bears Ears Education Center, to educate visitors to preserve and protect this special landscape.  Jan Byrnes, Vice President of Grand Circle Foundation, recently attended the Grand Opening of the education center.

Led by Executive Director, Josh Ewing, they work to create local, regional and national support for greater protection of Cedar Mesa through education, advocating for national designations, supporting smart local policy-making, and organizing research and volunteer service activities.

They also continue to monitor the work and actions of the Bureau of Land Management, US Forest Service, and the Glen Canyon National Recreation area, which are tasked with managing resources in the Greater Cedar Mesa area. With that regard, they offer managers research, guidance and education to see that management maintains wilderness values and protects cultural/archaeological assets, while providing for continued access for local residents and visitors from around the world.

Read more about Bears Ears and The Friends of Cedar Mesa here.