Who we are.

Welcome to TRACE. We’re a team of students studying communications at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. But we’re more than that. We’re individuals who are passionate about the environment.

We began the TRACE movement as a result of the public land disputes that have consumed the media in Utah for the past year after the Obama Administration established Bears Ears National Monument in Southern Utah in late 2016. At the request of Utah Governor Gary Herbert, the Trump Administration has conducted a formal review on this monument as well as many others in the country and made executive decisions to reduce the size of the national monument in late 2017.

This decision sparked large-scale controversy that made national news. While some found it appalling that the federal government would remove such protection for land that is precious and historic, others supported the decision because it would open the land for activities that are otherwise restricted on government-owned land, hindering certain lifestyles.

Regardless of its status as a national monument, because of the widespread publicity surrounding the political battle, the Bears Ears region has gained popularity as a tourist destination. The increasing traffic to the region has left the land intentionally and unintentionally damaged - people collecting ancient artifacts, using historically significant dwellings as a source of firewood, graffiti on important paneling, recreational vehicles running through ancient burial grounds just to name a few.

Because taking political action to re-reverse an already reversed and sticky policy would likely be unfruitful in the long run, we thought: The decision’s already been made, so where do we go from here? This led us to TRACE. Our goal is to inform people about the best environmental practices to help save what we have left -- not only of national monuments but of the world.

Join us as we explore smart and sustainable tips and practices that protect the environment and make a difference. You can leave a positive trace if you choose.

TRACE. Choose yours.