September 25, 2023, COACHELLA VALLEY, CALIF. –The California Native Plant Society (CNPS) enthusiastically joins Consultant Raul Ruiz, tribal and neighborhood leaders in calling for the designation of Chuckwalla Nationwide Monument, vital desert habitat adjoining to Joshua Tree Nationwide Park.
Assertion from Katie Barrows, CNPS Riverside San-Bernardino Chapter:
“The proposed Chuckwalla Nationwide Monument would shield 660,000 acres of public lands that comprise uncommon and threatened native California vegetation, lots of which are discovered nowhere else on Earth, making them notably delicate to local weather change. Designating the Chuckwalla Nationwide Monument would supply wanted safety to uncommon vegetation, equivalent to the Mecca aster (Xylorhiza cognata), Orocopia sage (Salvia greatae), Munz’s cholla (Cylindropuntia munzii), and one of many few populations of big saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea) present in California.
The Chuckwalla Nationwide Monument would additionally present habitat corridors, a vital nature-based technique to handle the threats and impacts of local weather change. If designated, the nationwide monument would supply linkages to Joshua Tree Nationwide Park and supply safety to necessary plant habitat equivalent to desert wash woodlands, chuckwalla dune thickets, and California fan palm oases. This panorama gives vital habitat for migrating chook populations, desert tortoise, and different wildlife.”
Assertion from CNPS Conservation Program Specialist Álvaro Casanova:
“Designation of the Chuckwalla Nationwide Monument would considerably contribute to state and federal authorities commitments to guard 30% of public lands and waters by 2030, which interprets to roughly 6 million acres of land in California. The nationwide monument would additionally present an instance of what could be achieved when native communities, youth, companies, tribal nations, and decision-makers come collectively to point out the world that entry to nature for native communities, conservation, and renewable vitality improvement could be achieved to satisfy each the challenges of a altering local weather and the wants of individuals within the area.”
