The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Utah's iconic redrock wilderness. Based in Salt Lake City, SUWA employs a variety of strategies including advocacy, legal action, and public education to protect these irreplaceable landscapes. With a focus on wilderness designation and opposition to harmful development, SUWA has been instrumental in safeguarding millions of acres of public land. Through its work, the organization strives to ensure that future generations can experience the awe-inspiring beauty and recreational opportunities of Utah's wild places.

GEC worked with SUWA to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) to assess its financial operations, land use patterns, and potential for critical mineral development. By examining SITLA’s revenue streams, beneficiary distributions, and land sales data, we identified key trends in land use, including renewable energy and fossil fuel development. Furthermore, we utilized the Utah Geological Survey’s critical mineral deposit data to assess the overlap between protected areas and potential mineral resources. This analysis provides valuable insights for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) to inform its advocacy and conservation efforts, particularly regarding the protection of critical mineral-rich lands and balancing the interests of various stakeholders.