WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the Biden-Harris administration’s designation expanding the San Gabriel Mountains and Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monuments, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) and California Environmental Voters (EnviroVoters) released the following statements:
“The Biden-Harris administration has done more for conservation than any other first-term president in history. They have protected a historic 41 million acres and counting, and are continuing to deliver on community-led conservation with this latest expansion of San Gabriel Mountains and Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monuments,” said Gene Karpinski, President of LCV. “With these expansions, the administration is increasing equitable access to the outdoors in one of the country’s most populated areas while protecting clean water sources, healthy ecosystems, and vital cultural resources in Southern California. Expanding Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument to include Molok Luyuk also honors its cultural importance to the Yocha Dehe Wintun peoples, as well as other California Tribes, and conserves the region’s incredible biodiversity.
National monuments are a win-win to permanently protect our cultural and natural resources and advance equity in the outdoors. We join local partners and Tribal leaders in celebrating these expansions, and we look forward to supporting the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to protect even more places worthy of national monument designation.”
“The expansion of our national monuments and protection of our public lands are key nature-based solutions to the climate and biodiversity crises,” said Mary Creasman, Chief Executive Officer, California Environmental Voters. “These additions to the San Gabriel Mountains and Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monuments include must-protect areas that provide communities with critical drinking water, create access to greenspaces for underserved communities, hold historical and cultural significance to California Tribes and Indigenous community leaders, and serve as wildlife corridors and habitats for imperiled animals and native plants. We thank President Biden for his leadership and urge him to look to additional places in California for national monument designation, so we can make more progress towards our 30×30 goals.”
Alongside this historic announcement, LCV is also launching a digital ad campaign to run throughout the DC metro area thanking the Biden-Harris Administration for this action. Ads will focus on the Administration’s leadership to protect clean water, local tribal communities, and equitable access to nature for both the Berryessa Snow Mountain and San Gabriel Mountains Monuments.
