CalWild

We're celebrating a remarkable milestone in conservation history today: the 60th anniversary of The Wilderness Act! Signed into law on September 3, 1964, the Wilderness Act ensures that everyone will continue to experience the beauty and tranquility of wild places untouched by development. It has been guiding conservation efforts and inspiring new generations to cherish and protect our planet for decades and continues to provide pathways to protecting our wild lands and water sheds for future generations. Happy 60th Anniversary, Wilderness Act! 

Exciting News from California! 🌟 Legislators and Tribal leaders are urging President Biden to designate three new national monuments in the state. These sites, including Medicine Lake Highlands and Chuckwalla, are vital for their ecological and cultural significance. Tribal leaders stress the need for protection from industrial threats and advocate for enhanced stewardship. Assembly member James Ramos is leading the charge, highlighting that monument status could preserve these areas and their heritage. Find out more in this CapRadio article for more! Photo (featuring our own Mark Green) by Manola Secaira for CapRadio.

BREAKING NEWS: With overwhelming bipartisan support, the California Legislature has passed Senate Joint Resolutions 16 & 17 in support of designating Chuckwalla, Kw’tsán, and Sáttítla National Monuments! This milestone is a testament to the enduring leadership of Tribal nations, who have safeguarded their lands for generations. The Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe, the Cahuilla Band of Indians, the Chemehuevi Indian Tribe, the Colorado River Indian Tribes, the Twenty-Nine Palms Band of Mission Indians, and the Pit River Tribe are at the forefront of these efforts, protecting these regions of profound cultural, ecological, and spiritual significance. Thank you to Assemblymember James Ramos, Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, Senator Steve Padilla, Senator Ben Allen, and the California Native American Legislative Caucus for standing with Tribal leadership. Now, we urge President Joe Biden to use the Antiquities Act to designate these sacred Tribal lands as national monuments!

🌟 Exciting Update! The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in California has a new State Director! “It is an honor to return to the BLM California as State Director,” Joe Stout said. “I look forward to building upon the important work the Bureau has accomplished here and to grow our partnerships that are so vital to managing public lands and the communities we serve.” Stout will oversee 15 million acres of public lands and 42 million acres of minerals and energy resources in California, plus 1.6 million surface acres in northwestern Nevada. Welcome, Joe Stout! 🌲🌄

“Designating the monument can encourage visitor spending in gateway towns, benefiting hotels, restaurants, and shops. Outdoor recreation already injects $54.7 billion into California's economy and is an important engine for our state and region.” In her letter to the editor, Hemet San Jacinto Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cyndi Lemke encouraged @POTUS to designate the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument in the CA Desert! Read more in the Desert Sun: https://lnkd.in/gJUV--fk 

“Kaufmann traces the history of fire back billions of years and points to indigenous tribes and plant life as exemplars of how to live in better harmony with nature. He posits that rapid response teams alone can’t solve this — and may unwittingly be part of the problem.” Check out this great review of Obi Kaufmann’s new book, The State of Fire: Why California Burns in the Nob Hill Gazette! https://lnkd.in/gfZ-7n3B

✨GOOD NEWS! The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) issued new guidance for implementing the Public Lands Rule to improve and conserve the health of our public lands. BLM also announced an advisory committee to ensure public participation in the process. BLM Director Tracy Stone-Manning said, “With this guidance and the announcement of our advisory committee, we are showing our work, demonstrating how this rule will look in practice and asking the public to help inform our implementation so we can make good on our obligation to protect and conserve the health of our public lands.”

30 miles northeast of Mount Shasta, Sattitla is a vital water source and sacred site for the Ahjumawi and Modoc tribes. This diverse volcanic landscape supports unique wildlife and captures crucial snowmelt. Yet, it’s under threat from industrial geothermal development. The proposed Sattitla National Monument would offer essential protection for this sacred area. We need your support! Visit https://lnkd.in/gZhvEQ7S to sign the petition and urge President Biden to protect Sattitla. Excerpts from a 2001 film called Save Medicine Lake by Mt Shasta Ecology

Join Our Reforestation Effort! Adventure Scientists is looking for volunteers to help scout and document conifer cones across eight national forests in California. The cones you find will be used to gather seeds for replanting areas ravaged by wildfires and climate change. In recent years, California has experienced over 10,000 wildfires annually, devastating vast forest areas. If you're a hiker, backpacker, or outdoor enthusiast, this is a great way to make a real impact. Read the 2023 project report here and sign up to volunteer today: https://lnkd.in/gvXMbiPr

Over 225 business supporters have joined the call for President Joe Biden to Protect Chuckwalla! Designating a national monument in the California desert would benefit the economies of local communities and protect places that are beloved for outdoor recreation like Painted Canyon and the Mecca Hills. Click this link to let your voice be heard: https://lnkd.in/gFfBCazw 📸: Bob Wick