Bill introduced in Congress would protect nearly 450,000 acres in Nevada that are sacred to tribes and provide important habitat for native wildlife
Las Vegas, NV - The National Parks Conservation Association today welcomed the introduction of a new bill to designate a new national monument in southern Nevada.
The Avi Kwa Ame National Monument Establishment Act of 2022 (H.R. 6751), introduced by Rep Dina Titus (D-NV) would designate the sacred Avi Kwa Ame landscape a national monument and permanently protect nearly 450,000 acres of some of the most picturesque, biologically diverse and culturally significant lands in the Mojave Desert.
Statement from Neal Desai, senior program director at the National Parks Conservation Association:
“Protecting Avi Kwa Ame as a national monument will ensure the Joshua trees, bighorn sheep, desert tortoises, and sacred lands are protected for future generations. We are grateful for Representative Titus’ leadership on this legislation. We have worked for years alongside tribal and local communities to form consensus on this monument proposal and boundary, and are thrilled to see the hard work by so many people recognized with today’s monumental milestone of legislation introduction.”
Statement from Alan O’Neill, advisor to the National Parks Conservation Association and retired superintendent of Lake Mead National Recreation Area:
“I’ve been working on this effort for a long time, starting two decades ago when I worked at the National Park Service to designate the Spirit Mountain Traditional Cultural Property. Representative Titus’ legislation follows through on long-standing requests by tribes to permanently protect the sacred Avi Kwa Ame landscape. This monument is also the missing link that would connect the Eastern Mojave Desert to the Colorado Plateau, providing space and elevation for this thriving ecosystem to adapt to the impacts from climate change.”
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About the National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than 1.6 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.
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