America’s Natural Heritage: National Monuments Are Essential for Birds—and for All of Us

America’s 138 national monuments may not draw quite the same spotlight as national parks like Yosemite or Yellowstone, but they welcome some 20 million visitors each year and safeguard some of our most famous landscapes—think Devils Tower National Monument, of Close Encounters fame. Beyond their scenic and recreational value, national monuments protect bird habitat, sustain biodiversity, honor cultural heritage, and support local economies.  

Across the country, some of our most spectacular landscapes, from the rainforests of Alaska’s Misty Fjords and the spectacular ochre ribbons of Arizona’s Canyon de Chelly to the deep forests and lakes of Maine’s Katahdin Woods and Waters, are formally designated national monuments. These places provide safe havens for birds and people alike. And as bird populations decline across North America and natural habitats continue to disappear, protecting national monuments has never been more important.  

In fact, like the Northern Spotted Owl at Cascade-Siskiyou on the California-Oregon border or the Greater Sage-Grouse at Idaho’s Craters of the Moon, national monuments provide islands of vital, unfragmented habitat that many species rely on for survival.  These places safeguard the forests, rivers, deserts, shorelines, and grasslands that birds need to nest, feed, raise their young, and rest throughout their life cycles. For migratory species that travel thousands of miles each year, every protected stopover can mean the difference between survival and decline.  

A Conservation Priority 

The urgency of protecting and conserving America’s landscapes is clear. A landmark study from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology found that North America has lost nearly three billion birds since 1970—a staggering 29 percent decline of the continent’s bird population. Grassland birds have experienced some of the steepest losses, while shorebirds, arid-land species, and many migratory songbirds also continue to decline. With habitat loss as the single greatest driver of these trends, conserving large, intact public lands like national monuments helps address this crisis by protecting the places birds need most. 

We also know that birds are powerful indicators of ecosystem health. When bird populations decline, it often signals broader environmental problems that affect other wildlife—and people. Birds pollinate plants, disperse seeds, control insect populations, and contribute to healthy forests, wetlands, and agricultural lands. Protecting bird habitat also conserves the natural systems that provide clean drinking water, fertile soils, climate resilience, and countless other benefits for people and local communities. 

Public lands and national monuments play a critical role in addressing biodiversity loss and climate change. They store carbon, maintain wildlife corridors, reduce habitat fragmentation, and give species more room to adapt as temperatures and weather patterns shift. Scientists have warned that approximately one million species worldwide face the risk of extinction, largely because of habitat destruction and ecosystem degradation. Conserving large, connected landscapes is one of the most effective strategies to slow these losses and build resilience for the future. 

How National Monuments Are Created 

National monuments are created in two ways, either through an act of Congress, or designated by the president under the Antiquities Act of 1906. The Antiquities Act, passed into law during a time of rapid expansion and development in the Western United States, authorizes the protection of public lands with significant natural, cultural, historical, or scientific features.  

Once designated, these places remain public lands and are managed by the federal agency that already administers them, including the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and, for some marine national monuments, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Each agency manages monuments under its own mission and authorities, but all are responsible for protecting the resources that make these places nationally significant while balancing public access, recreation, scientific research, and, where appropriate, traditional uses such as grazing or hunting. 

The Human Landscape 

Beyond supporting birds and the other direct environmental benefits, national monuments drive local economies, drawing visitors from around the world and powering businesses in nearby communities. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, outdoor recreation supported millions of jobs across the country and in 2024 contributed nearly  $697 billion to the national economy, more than two percent of national gross domestic product. Birdwatching alone has become one of America’s fastest-growing outdoor activities, attracting millions of participants every year and supporting local economies through travel, lodging, restaurants, outfitters, and guide services.   

Additionally, many of these protected places preserve cultural and historical treasures, including sacred Indigenous landscapes, archaeological sites, and historic landmarks, honoring the deep connections Tribal nations have maintained with these lands for generations. Conservation is strongest when it recognizes both ecological and cultural stewardship, ensuring these landscapes continue to sustain ecosystems and communities alike. 

Protecting national monuments is an investment in birds, biodiversity, and communities. As conservation challenges grow, safeguarding these public lands becomes even more important. By supporting science-based protections for our nation’s landscapes, we can help ensure that future generations inherit a country where birds still fill our skies, ecosystems remain resilient, and Americans continue to benefit from our irreplaceable public lands.