Release Date: May 20th, 2024
Media Contact: Emily Thompson
202-758-3936
The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks Thanks Secretary Haaland for Visit to Chuckwalla
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland visited California last week and met with Tribal, congressional, and local community leaders who are working to protect the area’s natural and cultural resources through the establishment of Chuckwalla National Monument and the expansion of Joshua Tree National Park.
Celebrating Secretary Haaland’s visit to Chuckwalla, the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, issued the following statement:
“We thank Secretary Haaland for meeting with local community leaders about the opportunity to designate a new Chuckwalla National Monument.
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.
In addition, protecting land adjacent to Joshua Tree National Park would connect to the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument and help to join standalone ‘islands’ of public lands to better ensure the continued protection of important habits and migration corridors.
We urge President Biden and Secretary Haaland to continue to work towards their 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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