A new survey conducted by Colorado College has found strong support in the Rocky Mountain region for conservation efforts. Three-fourths of voters would support conserving 30% of America’s lands within the next decade.

Ernie Atencio of the National Parks Conservation Association says it makes sense why Arizonans in particular are in support of conserving public lands.

“The Southwest … it is the landscape of beautiful, wide-open spaces, a lot of protected lands, and I think that it is part of the identity of people who live in this region," Atencio said. "And they care about that.”

Atencio stressed the importance of urgency when talking about conservation efforts in the Southwest.

"We need to do this to save the biodiversity that we have left on the planet, and to provide some resiliency for climate change impacts," Atencio said.

The survey also shows over 60% of Arizonans would support a permanent ban on new uranium and other mining on public land near the Grand Canyon.