Trump cuts size of protected monuments in Utah

Trump’s move to reduce the size of the Bear Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments is likely to be challenged in court.

Environmentalists in the US have filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump – over the dramatic reduction of two historic national monuments in Utah.

The decision will see the Bears Ears National Monument shrink by nearly 90 percent and the Grand Staircase-Escalante by half.

The move could open up public lands across the US to mining and development, but opponents say it threatens archaeological sites and national heritage.

Al Jazeera’s Andy Gallacher explains.