April 16, 2024
Contact: Emily Thompson
Coalition Urges Designation of Proposed Chuckwalla National Monument and Proposed Expansion of Joshua Tree National Park
Today, Senator Alex Padilla and Representative Raul Ruiz sent a joint letter to President Biden urging him to use the Antiquities Act to designate the Chuckwalla National Monument and protect approximately 17,000 acres of additional public land adjacent to Joshua Tree National Park in California. Senator Padilla also introduced legislation in support of the designations.
Phil Francis, Chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, issued the following statement:
“We thank Senator Padilla for being a champion for the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument and we strongly support the designation.
Designating Chuckwalla as a national monument will help to protect over 600,000 acres of desert land that serves as a habitat for an incredible amount of biodiversity. It will also safeguard numerous historic sites and resources and preserve a landscape that is culturally significant for many Tribes.
We also strongly support the additional protection of land adjacent to Joshua Tree National Park. These protected acres would connect to the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument and help to join standalone ‘islands’ of public lands. In addition to protecting a landscape of natural, cultural, and historic significance, President Biden can help to ensure the continued protection of important habits and migration corridors for several species that are being impacted by climate change.
We urge President Biden to continue to work towards his pledge to protect 30% of U.S. lands and waters by 2030 and act swiftly to designate Chuckwalla National Monument and expand Joshua Tree National Park.”
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