Protect the Greater Chaco Cultural Landscape as One of Country’s ‘Most Endangered’ Historic Places

May 28, 2026
Last week, The National Trust for Historic Preservation included the Greater Chaco Cultural Landscape in its 2026 list of the top 11 most endangered historic places. The trust describes how the cultural landscape has historically been treated as an isolated archaeological park by federal and state management, with its broader landscape and living Indigenous communities, which are culturally connected with the area, being ignored.

Right now, efforts are underway to fully revoke Public Land Order No. 7923, which had placed a ban on new leasing for gas and mineral extraction on the Greater Chaco Cultural Landscape. Without permanent protections, lands outside the protected park boundaries could open to oil and gas development, damaging the integrity of the landscape and limiting continued cultural access and use by Pueblo communities. Learn more and support the Chaco Culture Heritage Areas Protection act here.

Since 2018 First Nations’ Stewarding Native lands program has supported efforts to protect this cultural landscape through the Environmental Sovereignty and Justice focus area. Learn more about Navajo Nation, Pueblo Action Alliance, and Dine Citizens Against Ruining our Environments efforts here.

Photo credit Avi Farber, National Trust for Historic Preservation