In a letter sent yesterday, 100 organizations representing millions of members and supporters across the country join the Indigenous leaders and nations, state and local governments, conservation organizations, outdoor recreationists, small businesses, artists, and advocates urging President Biden to designate Avi Kwa Ame as a national monument. The letter comes ahead of Public Lands Day this Saturday, September 24 and on the heels of Secretary Haaland’s recent visit to the proposed national monument site in southern Nevada.
The letter states:
“The proposed Avi Kwa Ame national monument spans nearly 450,000 acres between the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and the Nevada–California state border. These lands feature dramatic peaks, scenic canyons, natural springs, sloping bajadas covered with ancient Joshua tree forests, unique grasslands, and a rich history of rock art and other cultural sites. The cultural, natural, recreational, and historic resources and values throughout this incredible southern Nevada landscape need stronger, permanent protections.“