December, in brief

Key news from December

• At the conclusion of the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in Montreal, Canada, almost 200 countries reached an agreement to protect 30 percent of the planet by 2030 in hopes of preventing irrecoverable biodiversity loss and catastrophic ecosystem collapse. The 30x30 pledge is in line with the Biden administration's America the Beautiful Initiative, which set the goal of conserving 30 percent of the nation's lands and waters by 2030. 
   
• The Senate will not have sufficient time left in the session to confirm Laura Daniel-Davis as the Interior Department Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management. Daniel-Davis has been waiting more than 500 days for confirmation, having endured two full confirmation hearings before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. When Congress returns in 2023, President Joe Biden will have to nominate Daniel-Davis for a third time or choose a new nominee for the position. Earlier this month, over 100 women who have worked with Daniel-Davis throughout her career called on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to bring her nomination up for a vote in the Senate before the end of the year, when her nomination expires.
   
• At the annual Colorado River Water Users Conference, held in Las Vegas, Nevada, there was broad agreement that the river is in crisis but no agreement yet as to what to do about it. Meanwhile, between overallocation of the river's water and an ongoing drought, reservoirs continue to shrink. Federal officials now warn that in two years, Lake Mead could reach "dead pool"—a water level so low that water will no longer flow past Hoover Dam to users downstream. Despite the widely-acknowledged seriousness of the situation, negotiators have not yet come to a voluntary agreement that would make meaningful cuts to water use. If water managers from across the Colorado River Basin cannot reach an agreement, the federal government may impose drastic and mandatory cuts.
   
• The number two official at the Bureau of Land Management told Congress that the agency supports a bill to protect the Dolores River and surrounding landscape in southwest Colorado. The legislation would protect more than 68,000 areas of public lands, including 45,000 acres of BLM-managed lands and 15,000 acres of national forest. Nada Wolff Culver, BLM's deputy director of policy and programs, testified during a committee hearing for the Dolores River National Conservation Area and Special Management Area Act. The bill is backed by Democratic senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper in the Senate, and all three of Colorado's Republican representatives, Lauren Boebert, Doug Lamborn, and Ken Buck, introduced identical legislation in the House.
   
• Arizona Governor Doug Ducey's attempt to build a makeshift wall out of shipping containers on national public land came to an abrupt halt, leaving a trail of environmental destruction and traffic snarls in its wake. The about-face came as the federal government sued the state over Ducey's stunt, and after around 20 protesters started camping in front of the wall, which was located in the Coronado National Forest. Ducey had said he planned to spend $95 million in taxpayer money to set up 3,000 shipping containers along the U.S.-Mexico border in Cochise County. 

What to watch for in January:

• Will President Biden re-nominate Laura Daniel-Davis as Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management?
• When will President Biden follow up on his commitment to designate Avi Kwa Ame as a national monument?
• Will President Biden designate Texas' Castner Range as a national monument?

Americans to Biden: Think bigger, create more national monuments 

On the heels of President Biden's pledge to designate Avi Kwa Ame as America's next national monument, the Center for Western Priorities released a new ad encouraging the president to keep up the momentum and create more national monuments in order to achieve his goal of protecting 30 percent of America's lands and waters by 2030.

The ad, "Future Lands," ran on MSNBC, CNN, and ESPN in Washington, DC, Wilmington, Denver, Albuquerque and Reno. It recognized President Biden's progress so far, which includes his designation of Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument in Colorado.

“This ad was inspired by Americans’ passion for more protected spaces, which we hear about all the time in the West,” said CWP Executive Director Jennifer Rokala. “We know that conservation is popular with voters on both sides of the aisle. Now is the time for President Biden to capitalize on the momentum he generated from Camp Hale with more national monument wins.”

Aaron and Kate talk to Drew McConville and Sam Zeno from the Center for American Progress about their new report, which identifies the top 8 actions Biden can take to meet his America the Beautiful goal of protecting 30 percent of American lands and waters by 2030.

Renowned nature photographer Pete McBride joins Aaron and CWP’s Director of Campaigns and Special Projects Lauren Bogard on the Landscape to discuss his work documenting the Colorado River.

Center for Western Priorities Executive Director Jennifer Rokala and CWP Director of Campaigns and Special Projects Lauren Bogard join Aaron and Kate to go over the past year in public lands. From the passage of the largest climate bill in U.S. history (which includes major oil and gas leasing reforms) to a new national monument to the launch of a new conservation funding program, 2022 was a big year for public lands. The CWP team talks about what all of these developments mean and how they will continue playing out in 2023.

Officials fear 'complete doomsday scenario' for drought-stricken Colorado River as Compact turns 100

Washington Post
 

The fight for Castner Range National Monument in Texas

The New Yorker
 

Opinion: Voters have spoken—protect land and climate

Santa Fe New Mexican
 

Prioritizing equitable access supports biodiversity and climate goals

Hispanic Access Foundation
 

Anti-Bears Ears activists live on public land rent-free

Salt Lake Tribune
 

The time is right to ban uranium mining in the Grand Canyon. But the Senate needs to hurry

Grist
 

We're still here: What it means to be a Native American working for the National Park Service

National Parks Conservation Association
 

Communities, Tribes have seen historic funding for conservation during Biden administration

Center for American Progress

“A monument designation for Avi Kwa Ame... allows us to fight climate change through conservation, protect critical wildlife habitat and species that depend on it, support local economies and quality of life, and, above all, honor Indigenous culture and history. At last month’s summit, Biden promised “respect” to Indigenous people and tribal nations — respect for tribal sovereignty, respect for tribal consultation in federal decision-making, and respect for Indigenous knowledge. The designation of this monument would be a tremendous example of fulfilling that promise.”

—Timothy Williams, Chairman of the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe of Nevada, Arizona and California