Monument Expansions Center Equity and Justice in Conservation

President Joe Biden is set to announce plans today to expand the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument in Southern California and the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument in Northern California. The expansion of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument will provide access to nature for many nonwhite, low-income communities in the Greater Los Angeles area. Nicole Gentile, senior director for Conservation at the Center for American Progress, highlighted the importance of these monument expansions in promoting equity and justice in conservation efforts. She stated, "These monument expansions build on President Biden’s legacy of centering equity and justice in his conservation work. They will ensure that historically marginalized communities have access to, and are represented in, the country’s public lands." Gentile emphasized that the expansion of these monuments will provide nature access to millions of Southern Californians living in urban areas affected by nature deprivation, particularly people of color and low-income communities. Additionally, the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument expansion aims to protect sacred lands and wildlife habitat, with a commitment to explore Tribal co-stewardship to center Indigenous voices and leadership on public lands.