President Joe Biden will expand two national monuments in California that were initially designated by his predecessor, Barack Obama. These expansions aim to protect the unique biodiversity, Indigenous culture, and geological wonders present in these areas.
1. Carrizo Plain National Monument: The monument is located in southeastern San Luis Obispo County. It’s known for its stunning wildflower blooms and diverse wildlife, and it also holds significant archaeological and cultural artifacts of the Native American Chumash people.
2. San Gabriel Mountains National Monument: This monument covers parts of the San Gabriel Mountain Range in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. It’s an important source of water and a significant recreational area for millions of people in Southern California.
The expansion may include extending the boundaries to incorporate more land, enhancing the regulations to protect existing resources, and increasing funding for maintenance and staff. However, such plans could face opposition from local industries like fishing, farming, and oil, whose operations might be affected by the increased regulations.
Biden’s decision follows the tradition of using the Antiquities Act of 1906, which gives the President the authority to create national monuments from public lands to protect significant natural, cultural, or scientific features.
The Biden administration has continued to prioritize the fight against climate change and conservation of natural resources, and these expansions seem to align with those goals. It would also reverse actions by the Trump administration that reduced the size of several national monuments.
Biden plans to expand 2 national monuments in California originally designated by Obama
President Joe Biden will expand two national monuments in California that were initially designated by his predecessor, Barack Obama. These expansions aim to protect the unique biodiversity, Indigenous culture, and geological wonders present in these areas.
1. Carrizo Plain National Monument: The monument is located in southeastern San Luis Obispo County. It’s known for its stunning wildflower blooms and diverse wildlife, and it also holds significant archaeological and cultural artifacts of the Native American Chumash people.
2. San Gabriel Mountains National Monument: This monument covers parts of the San Gabriel Mountain Range in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. It’s an important source of water and a significant recreational area for millions of people in Southern California.
The expansion may include extending the boundaries to incorporate more land, enhancing the regulations to protect existing resources, and increasing funding for maintenance and staff. However, such plans could face opposition from local industries like fishing, farming, and oil, whose operations might be affected by the increased regulations.
Biden’s decision follows the tradition of using the Antiquities Act of 1906, which gives the President the authority to create national monuments from public lands to protect significant natural, cultural, or scientific features.
The Biden administration has continued to prioritize the fight against climate change and conservation of natural resources, and these expansions seem to align with those goals. It would also reverse actions by the Trump administration that reduced the size of several national monuments.
