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Our view: Zinke should heed his own words Thursday Jul 20, 2017 at 12:01 AM We learned one thing about Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke during his visit to the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument over the weekend: He's a politician. President Donald Trump has ordered Zinke to review 27 national monuments created by various presidents under the Antiquities Act and determine whether some monument designations should be reversed in whole or in part. Zinke met with groups supporting and opposed to the monument as well as Gov. Kate Brown during his visit. He said all the right things to reassure both sides, but said nothing to indicate how he might be leaning. What Zinke did say, however, will make it difficult for him to recommend any changes to this monument, if he takes his own words to heart. There is considerable doubt in legal circles whether Trump or any president has the power to rescind or reduce monument designations. That question will be answered in court if Trump attempts to do so; Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum already has said her office will sue if that happens. But first, Zinke must issue his recommendation, which he must do by late August. Here's what Zinke had to say Saturday and Sunday, and why he should recommend leaving the Cascade-Siskiyou monument unchanged. First, he said that much of the use of the monument is "heavy recreation," and that some lands now within national monuments would be "better suited" to designation as National Recreation Areas, as he has recommended for some monument lands in Utah. Certainly the Cascade-Siskiyou sees a great deal of recreation, but that's not why it was created. President Bill Clinton established it in 2000 to protect the biodiversity reflected in the plant and animal species that live in the monument or move through it. Recreation is a side benefit — and it was already happening before the monument existed. Second, Zinke acknowledged that the Cascade-Siskiyou was created to protect that biodiversity, and that "you have to go to the science on what objects [are being protected], and in this case biodiversity, so let's look at what that means and how do we protect it." One of the questions Zinke is attempting to answer is whether the monument designation covers the smallest area necessary to protect what it was established to protect. In the case of Bears Ears, that was ancient Native American artifacts and relics, which are in specific places within the monument lands. Artifacts don't move. Species do, and they depend on interconnected habitats to thrive. That's why President Barack Obama, at the urging of scientists, expanded the Cascade-Siskiyou in January from 66,000 acres to 113,013 acres, because the science on which Zinke wants to rely indicated that, far from being the smallest area necessary, this monument wasn't big enough. In fact, since the expansion was more limited than backers had sought, it could be argued that the monument still isn't big enough. Brown said Zinke told her he wanted to work collaboratively with the state of Oregon, but gave no indication what his recommendation might be. Judging by his words, Zinke understands the reasons for the monument and the justification for establishing it. If he "goes to the science," it will tell him the monument should remain unchanged.