May 2, 2024 – The Conservation Alliance (TCA) celebrates today the Biden Administration’s announcement of the expansion of California’s Berryessa Snow Mountains and San Gabriel Mountains National Monuments that will protect over 100,000 acres of public lands in California. The Biden Administration’s decision to expand these monuments will not only safeguard and preserve the natural beauty of these areas but also honors the profound connection various Tribes and communities have to these lands.
“We thank President Biden, Secretary Haaland, and Congressional champions for these historic protections in California that will provide conservation benefits and enduring recreational opportunities for generations to come,” said Rebecca Gillis, TCA Senior Director of Advocacy and Outreach. “The Conservation Alliance has long worked alongside our grantees to support National Monuments because they are a proven tool to permanently protect public lands for all to enjoy while also directly benefiting our economy. These kinds of expansions are exactly what we had in mind when we launched Mobilizing for Monuments last year. We are now proud to stand with nearly 100 companies advocating for National monuments across the country.”
The addition of Molok Luyuk to Berryessa honors the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation who have sought tribal co-management of these ancestral homelands. Protecting the entirety of Berryessa Snow Mountain is a win for tribes, local communities, and the outdoor recreation industry. Berryessa Snow Mountain was first designated as a national monument in 2015 and The Conservation Alliance is proud to have supported grantee, Tuleyome, and have given $80,000 to protect this monument.
The Biden Administration is protecting 105,000 acres of public lands by expanding San Gabriel Mountains National Monument. Located near Los Angeles, over 18 million people live within a 90-mile radius of these public lands and the expansion will help ensure equitable access to nature for these residents. TCA grantee, CalWild, worked alongside the coalition of local organizations, tribes, and businesses to advocate for the expansion of San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.
Fueled by this success and the support of the Biden Administration, TCA will continue to advocate for the expansion and conservation of public lands in the United States with the support of its members, through political advocacy and with campaigns like Mobilizing For Monuments.
For more information about The Conservation Alliance, please visit conservationalliance.com. For more information on the Mobilizing for Monuments campaign and to sign the pledge to support public lands conservation through national monument designation, visit mobilizingformonuments.com.
