Local Opinion- Ironwood Forest must be protected
By Christine Flanagan, Board Member, Friends of Ironwood Forest
This land is heartland This land is our land, it’s not for sale land From California to the Ellis Island From Ironwood Forest to the Colorado Uplands This land was made for you and me With apologies to the memory of Woody Guthrie, nearly 150 people gathered at the Ironwood Forest National Monument on a recent Saturday to sing a new version of his classic, the lyrics illustrating that we stand united for the future of our public lands. We gathered to celebrate a milestone — the 25th anniversary of Ironwood Forest’s designation under the Antiquities Act — but also to sound the alarm. Ironwood Forest is once again facing the threat of reduced protections, part of a destructive trend aimed at shrinking national monuments and opening them to expanded oil, gas, and mineral extraction. For those of us who live in and love southern Arizona, that’s simply unacceptable.
Our singing echoed off the slopes of the Waterman Mountains, a reminder that these lands are more than political abstractions. The Ironwood Forest National Monument spans more than 129,000 acres of Sonoran Desert landscape. It’s home to ancient Hohokam and Tohono O’odham archaeological sites, a historic 18th-century mission, petroglyphs, endangered species, and one of the most ecologically intact Ironwood-saguaro forests in the region. Surveys have documented more than 340 cultural sites, with estimates suggesting up to 3,000. These aren’t just markings in the dirt — they’re the memory of Arizona itself.
We’re grateful to the Pima County Board of Supervisors for passing a resolution opposing any rollback of protections for Ironwood Forest. Supervisor Jennifer Allen put it plainly when she said weakening the monument’s status would be ‘a step backward’ that ‘runs counter to the wishes of the people of Pima County.’ We couldn’t agree more. We also commend the City of Tucson and Town of
Marana for joining Pima County in declaring June 9 as Ironwood Forest Day. Their actions send a clear signal that local voices matter and that Arizona communities stand behind the values that monuments like Ironwood Forest represent.
But we can’t stop here. The threats facing Ironwood Forest and other national monuments are real and immediate. The Trump administration previously targeted the monument for potential boundary reductions. While those actions were ultimately reversed, current reports suggest a renewed effort to undermine protections under the guise of ‘review.’ Let’s not forget: Ironwood Forest was created because these lands were already at risk from unchecked mining and development. Weakening its status opens the door to irreversible damage. Ironwood Forest represents everything the Antiquities Act was created to preserve — from ancient archaeological sites to unique desert wildlife. This is a moment to show how much Americans care for our public lands.
As peaceful protests erupt around the country, our rally illustrated similar sentiments: we will not be silenced. Our rally marked a call to action, a declaration that the people of Arizona cherish their public lands and will speak forcefully when they are threatened. From the desert bighorns roaming Waterman Peak to the families who visit Ironwood to hike, reflect, and learn, these lands belong to all of us.
To the decision-makers in Washington: hear us clearly. This land is not for sale. It is heartland — sacred ground, rich in history, and irreplaceable in its beauty. The people of Arizona are watching, and we will fight to ensure that Ironwood Forest remains protected for the next 25 years, and beyond.
Published June 23, 2025 in the Arizona Daily Star
