On Tuesday, President Biden announced three major initiatives to help protect natural and culturally significant areas, as well as to address environmental issues.
The first initiative is the designation of two new National Monuments: Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in Nevada's southern tip and Castner Range National Monument in El Paso, Texas. Avi Kwa Ame is a sacred site for many indigenous communities and will secure a long stretch of wildlife habitat. Castner Range is located at the Fort Bliss US Army installation and has previously been used for training and testing. It will require cleanup before it is opened to the public.
The second initiative is a call from Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo to consider an expansion of Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument with a decision expected within 30 days. This would protect all the U.S. The waters around the Pacific Remote Islands southwest of Hawaii include the 495,000 square miles of open ocean, coral reef and island habitats already in the area. *
The third initiative includes programs to address the global climate crisis through maritime policies, protect communities from forest fires and foster conservation partnerships with tribal nations. It also calls for expanding offshore wind energy, making shipping more environmentally friendly and insequestrating carbon dioxide in ocean rocks and habitats. The Biden administration is also releasing an ocean climate plan and issuing guidance aimed at promoting habitat connectivity in decisions made by federal agencies, and announcing an effort to preserve green space around military installations.
The new national monuments will prevent mining and other kinds of development in the 507,000 acres they encompass and will also protect critical habitat for desert tortoise and other species. The designation of the Castner Range National Monument will provide access to the outdoors to low-income communities and ensure the preservation of archaeological artifacts from early Native American settlements, including rock art and pottery. *
The initiatives announced by President Biden show great respect for locals and Indigenous people, and are an important step in the process of protecting natural and culturally significant areas and addressing environmental issues.