President Biden is set to expand two California national monuments, enhancing protections for culturally significant lands.
Maxine Joselow reports for The Washington Post.
In short:
- President Joe Biden will use his executive power to expand the San Gabriel Mountains and Berryessa Snow Mountain national monuments by nearly 120,000 acres.
- The expansions aim to safeguard culturally important areas for Native American tribes and provide greater access to natural spaces for local communities.
- The use of the 1906 Antiquities Act allows Biden to circumvent Congressional deadlock and directly protect these landscapes.
Key quote:
“It’s strengthening access to the outdoors for so many low-income working families in the greater Los Angeles area.”
— Alex Padilla, California senator
Why this matters:
By increasing the land coverage of these monuments, the administration preserves more of the natural landscape and safeguards the diverse ecosystems and species that thrive within these areas. This move can also enhance the ability of these lands to act as carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide and playing a crucial role in the fight against climate change.
Related: Giving Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante the protection they deserve.
