Friend — Now is the time for President Biden to act on his promise to protect 30% of lands and waters by 2030, a goal that is in line with what science demands and will expand access to nature.

The President can take bold action right now. Under the Antiquities Act, presidents can designate national monuments on federal lands containing resources that are of historic, cultural or scientific significance.

If we are going to reach this goal, we need to make significant progress this year. In the lead-up to National Public Lands Day on September 24, we need to push the White House to make sure they go as big as possible.

Three areas in particular — Avi Kwa Ame in Nevada, Castner Range in Texas, and Camp Hale in Colorado — are strong candidates for conservation under the Antiquities Act with wide support from elected officials and local communities. Protecting these lands will preserve cultural sites and ecosystems while expanding equitable access to nature and investing in the growing outdoor recreation economy.

TAKE ACTION: Protect America’s natural resources and cultural sites. Help us reach our goal to deliver 10,000 comments to President Biden before National Public Lands Day on September 24.

Here’s what you need to know about these vital public lands:

• Castner Range extends over 7,000 acres near El Paso, Texas, acting as a natural flood buffer and water filtration system. Its unique landscape is home to rare wildlife as well as dozens of sacred Native American sites including rock shelters, petroglyphs, bedrock mortars, and habitations dating back 10,000 years.


• Avi Kwa Ame spans nearly 450,000 acres and includes sacred Indigenous sites and biodiverse wildlife in the Mojave Desert. Without protections, it’s vulnerable to development — which would destroy culturally significant lands and disrupt ecosystems across multiple states.


• Camp Hale and the surrounding natural landscape includes the Tenmile Range and a section of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. This designation would speak to the storied legacy of the Army's 10th Mountain Division in Colorado, who trained at Camp Hale and the Tenmile Range, led our nation to victory in World War II, and later created the outdoor industry in Colorado as we know it today. The landscape is both an important habitat and connective corridor for wildlife and a beloved destination for outdoor recreation — meriting historic preservation.

TAKE ACTION

President Biden can protect Castner Range, Avi Kwa Ame, and Camp Hale right now using his authority under the Antiquities Act to designate national monuments, ensuring permanent protections and access to public lands for nearby communities and future generations. Can you take action today?

Join 10,000 committed environmentalists who are telling President Biden to honor his commitment to conserve America's lands and waters.

Thank you for speaking up on behalf of our treasured lands.

Sincerely,

Alex Taurel
Conservation Program Director
League of Conservation Voters