CHUCKWALLA NATIONAL MONUMENT

The Chuckwalla National Monument proposal would protect approximately 660,000 acres just south of Joshua Tree National Park. The proposal is named for the chuckwalla lizard, one of the species found in the region. Establishing the monument would help ensure more equitable access to nature for local communities and safeguard biodiversity, wildlife habitat, and wildlife migration corridors.

The lands proposed for protection include the homelands of the Iviatim, Nüwü, Pipa Aha Macav, Kwatsáan, and Maara’yam peoples (Cahuilla, Chemehuevi, Mohave, Colorado River Indian Tribes/CRIT Mohave, Quechan, and Serrano nations). The area continues to hold cultural, natural, and spiritual significance for Indigenous peoples today. A national monument designation could provide an opportunity to honor Tribal sovereignty through a collaborative effort with federal agencies to establish co-management or co-stewardship of the monument.

In addition to Tribal nations, the monument proposal is supported by current and former local elected officials, including California Representative Raul Ruiz, M.D., cities and municipalities, dozens of businesses, chambers of commerce, and local community members. There is also a legislative proposal to protect approximately 17,000 acres of public lands that are adjacent to the east side of Joshua Tree National Park. Enacting both proposals for the national monument and the expansion of Joshua Tree National Park would qualify as significant progress toward reaching the national goal of protecting 30 percent of America’s lands and waters by 2030. For more information about the campaign, please visit protect chuckwalla.org.  

Hear from three people who know and love this region and want to see it protected: Altrena Santillanes, Tribal Council Secretary for the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians; Conchita Pozar, a local community leader and conservation advocate; and Frank Ruiz, the director of the California Desert and Salton Sea program for California Audubon.