Since 2010, Friends of Cedar Mesa has been fighting to ensure public lands in southeast Utah are protected and respected. To further this mission, we work to create support for greater protection of the Bears Ears region through education, advocating for national designations, supporting smart local policy-making, and organizing research and volunteer service activities. In 2018, FCM opened the first visitors center in the region designed to educate people on how to 'Visit with Respect'​. An increase in inexperienced visitors to Bears Ears National Monument has put some sensitive archaeological sites at risk. Without corresponding resources from the federal government, the land is in danger of being loved to death. In September, the Bears Ears Education Center opened its doors to welcome more than a thousand visitors in its first, abbreviated season. In 2018, our on-the-ground work included 5,354 volunteer hours, 4 graffiti removal projects, 23 school partnerships, recording of 36 cultural sites, trained 76 site stewards how to monitor sensitive archaeological sites, inventoried 98 campsites, submitted 29 pages of comments on the Bears Ears Management Plan and challenge 3 oil and gas lease sales on culturally sensitive lands. We 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 area. With that regard, we 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.