For Immediate Release
May 2, 2024
Contact: Cameron Mayer, Executive Director,
Friends of the Amargosa Basin
(562) 233-7874
Friends of the Amargosa Basin applaud Biden Administration’s Expansion of two Cherished National Monuments in California
Shoshone, CA – Friends of the Amargosa Basin has issued the following public statement from its Executive Director Cameron Mayer regarding President Biden’s actions today to expand San Gabriel Mountains National Monument and Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, both in California.
“President Biden’s momentous actions today will provide many benefits for Californians and all Americans in perpetuity, including access to nature for diverse and underserved communities, sustainability for local economies, and the conservation of vital ecosystems, all while appropriately honoring the long-held connections that regional tribes have with both landscapes since time immemorial.
“We particularly applaud the Biden administration’s meaningful engagement with and commitment to sovereign tribal nations, indigenous leaders, and the traditional knowledge bodies expressed in these cherished places. We recognize and respect the critical roles that tribes have played in both campaigns, and we appreciate that federal decision makers have sincerely listened to and acted on tribal leaders’ concerns.
“As we take the time to celebrate these proclamations by President Biden, this is also an opportunity to bolster a collective commitment towards safeguarding and stewarding these special public lands well into the future, so that current and future generations can enjoy the unmatched benefits that they provide.”