In January, 2025, President Biden protected over 624,000 acres of public lands by designating Chuckwalla National Monument in Southern California. Located near Joshua Tree National Park, the monument preserves a unique desert ecosystem and biodiversity that provides habitat for desert tortoise, the chuckwalla lizard, and a critical migration corridor. The new national monument will also ensure equitable access to nature for local communities and protect many places where communities recreate, including Mecca Hills, Orocopia Mountains, and the historic Bradshaw Trail National Back Country Byway.
Chuckwalla National Monument was a priority campaign for TCA, meaning supplemental advocacy and communications support was given in addition to funding. Multiple advocacy actions were taken by TCA companies, including a support letter signed by over 60 companies, hosting an Advocate Outdoors Event, several advocacy meetings in Washington, D.C., and a feature in the Mobilizing for Monuments Road Trip Film.
TCA grantee, CalWild, worked alongside the coalition of local organizations, tribes, and businesses to advocate for the designation of Chuckwalla National Monument. The Conservation Alliance has funded the state-wide advocacy work of CalWild since 2000 and has contributed $85,000 to the Chuckwalla campaign effort.
