Washington, D.C. — Center for American Progress President Neera Tanden issued the following statement after today’s announcement that the Obama administration will create the Mojave Trails National Monument, the Sand to Snow National Monument, and the Castle Mountains National Monument in California. These are the 20th, 21st, and 22nd national monuments that President Barack Obama has created or expanded since taking office. President Obama has now permanently protected more than 3.5 million acres of public land and more than 400,000 square miles of ocean through the creation or expansion of national monuments.
The Mojave and Sonoran deserts in California are known for their rugged character and desolate beauty, yet Congress has stalled for years in giving these lands the basic recognition and protections they deserve. By establishing these new national monuments, President Obama is bolstering an impressive conservation legacy that now stretches from the remote islands of the Pacific Ocean to the deserts of the West. There is no better way to celebrate the centennial of our national parks system than to continue the American tradition of conserving our most cherished natural, cultural, and historic wonders.
Related resources: New Conservation Protections for the Greater Sage Grouse Strengthen President Obama’s Conservation Record
For more information on this topic or to speak with an expert, contact Tom Caiazza at [email protected] or 202.481.7141.