Tribal-led effort protects over 600,000 acres
| WASHINGTON, DC | JANUARY 14, 2025 – Friends of the Desert Mountains is elated President Joe Biden has designated the Chuckwalla National Monument! This long-advocated for move protects over 600,000 acres of natural desert lands from the Coachella Valley to the Colorado River. |
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| Our community has shown strong support for the Chuckwalla National Monument, which will help our region provide public access to our natural lands while, at the same time, maintaining the health of our desert ecosystem. Friends has been part of the Protect California Deserts Coalition since 2021, supporting the effort by assisting with social media management, and leading guided hikes and bus tours to Box Canyon, the heart of Chuckwalla. |
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| “We’re excited for this designation to protect migration patterns and habitats for our desert wildlife, preserve cultural resources invaluable to indigenous communities, and allow for our desert environment to continue providing clean air and clean water through its natural processes” said Tammy Martin, Executive Director for Friends of the Desert Mountains. The signing event originally intended to be on the land in Box Canyon January 7th had to be shifted to this week in Washington DC at the White House. Several Friends were in attendance, including Board Member Rebecca Driscoll, Director of Education Oscar Ortiz, and Marketing and Development Associate Karin Jaffie (who represented Friends on the Protect California Deserts Coalition since 2021). In a surprising delight, Friends’ soon-to-be Environmental Leadership Fellow Rhian Reyes, a Chuckwalla Youth Advisory Panel alumna, was given the honor of introducing President Biden. |
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| We look forward to hiking the trails of the new Chuckwalla National Monument with all of you, stewarding the land with the tribal community, and to continue to learn and teach about the relationships between our land, our wildlife, and our people. |