The proposed monument is the traditional homeland of the Iviatim, Nüwü, Pipa Aha Macav, Quechan, and Maara’yam peoples, as well as a variety of species from the resilient desert tortoise to the majestic bighorn sheep. Designating it as a national monument will help ensure more equitable access to nature for residents of the Eastern Coachella Valley, Blythe, and other local communities.
Moreover, desert lands are scientifically recognized as significant carbon sinks, capturing and storing carbon emissions underground for thousands of years. The California Desert region, spanning Riverside and surrounding counties, holds about 10% of the state’s sequestered carbon that has been captured and stored over millennia in undisturbed soils.
Permanently protecting desert lands from development and other disturbances can help these carbon reserves remain in the ground and out of the atmosphere.
EnviroVoters is joining Senator Padilla and Representative Ruiz in calling on President Biden to use the Antiquities Act to designate Chuckwalla National Monument in the California Desert and protect lands adjacent to Joshua Tree National Park. We thank our Congress members for their leadership in urging the President to take action.
This is a historic opportunity to conserve public lands that are beloved for outdoor recreation activities as well as their stunning landscapes, incredible biodiversity, cultural significance, and rich history.
Please sign our petition to show President Biden the public support behind Senator Padilla and Representative Ruiz’s bills to designate Chuckwalla National Monument.
Thanks for taking action.
