Secretary Deb Haaland visited the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument on May 18, visiting with tribal leaders, government officials, and local groups. This is an important step toward a national monument designation for Chuckwalla.
The Conservation Alliance and Mobilizing for Monuments recently delivered a letter to the Biden Administration and members of Congress signed by over 60 outdoor and outdoor-adjacent companies across the country that demonstrates business support for the designation of Chuckwalla National Monument.
“The Conservation Alliance thanks Secretary Haaland for her recent visit to the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument. Protecting this landscape under the Antiquities Act will bolster the economic wellbeing of nearby gateway communities and improve access to nature for residents and visitors alike. We hope this visit further encourages the designation of Chuckwalla National Monument, and we will continue supporting on-the-ground leaders and utilizing the power of our members’ business voices to amplify the importance of protecting this crucial landscape,” said, Rebecca Gillis, Senior Director of Advocacy and Outreach at The Conservation Alliance.
Protecting the Chuckwalla National Monument will protect over 660,000 acres of important desert landscape and expand Joshua Tree National Park. A national monument designation will continue to drive a vibrant and sustainable economy. In 2022, the California outdoor recreation economy contributed $73.8 billion to the state’s gross domestic product (GDP), and supported more than 567,000 jobs for Californians. Expanding the national monument is not only beneficial to the environment, but a solid economic investment and a major contribution to surrounding communities’ livelihoods.
Chuckwalla National Monument is a priority landscape for both the Conservation Alliance and the Mobilizing for Monuments Coalition. In April, The Conservation Alliance brought together business leaders, local on-the-ground groups, and decisionmakers to Chuckwalla National Monument to learn more about effort and how businesses can continue to amplify the call for designation, and recently lobbied for its protection at TCA’s annual D.C. Fly-in.
The letter and list of supporting companies can be found here.
