President Joe Biden has announced the creation of the largest federally protected land corridor in the continental United States, covering nearly 850,000 acres of diverse landscapes. This unprecedented conservation effort, achieved through the designation of two new national monuments, aims to protect ecosystems, safeguard water resources, and preserve cultural heritage.
The new monuments, Chuckwalla National Monument in Southern California and Sáttítla Highlands National Monument in Northern California, represent a significant step in the Biden administration’s environmental agenda. The designations were made under the Antiquities Act, granting permanent protection to these areas from activities such as fossil fuel drilling and mining.
The Chuckwalla National Monument spans 624,000 acres south of Joshua Tree National Park. This region is now part of the newly established Moab to Mojave Conservation Corridor, which stretches nearly 18 million acres across multiple states. This corridor is the largest of its kind in the continental U.S., linking critical habitats and providing safe havens for rare species such as the Joshua Tree, desert bighorn sheep, and the Chuckwalla lizard.
“These particular sites in Southern California are important to Native American groups,” said Stan Meiburg, executive director of Wake Forest University’s Sabin Family Center for Environment and Sustainability. He added that the designation prevents industrial developments, such as renewable energy infrastructure, from encroaching on these culturally and environmentally significant areas.
In Northern California, the Sáttítla Highlands National Monument protects 224,000 acres of mountainous terrain, including portions of the Modoc, Shasta-Trinity, and Klamath National Forests. The monument encompasses the vast Medicine Lake Volcano, a geological wonder that is ten times larger than Mount St. Helens. Its rugged landscapes support vulnerable species like the Cascades frog, northern spotted owl, and long-toed salamander.
Both monuments are rich in cultural history, serving as ancestral lands for Indigenous tribes. The Chuckwalla National Monument includes sacred sites, ancient trails, and petroglyphs, while the Sáttítla Highlands preserves the heritage of the Pit River Tribe and Modoc Peoples, along with other Indigenous groups.
“Public and private land conservation is often forgotten as an essential tool in advancing economic, social, and environmental prosperity,” said John Farner, executive director of land and water at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. “This move creates long-lasting benefits for generations.”
The new protected areas are critical for the survival of unique plant and animal species. The iconic Joshua Tree, under threat from climate change and development, now has a better chance of survival. The cold-water systems in the Sáttítla Highlands, vital for salmon and trout populations, will also benefit from these protections.
“These monuments will play a vital role in saving hundreds of plants and animals, many of them unique to these landscapes,” said Rodd Kelsey, director of land conservation for the Nature Conservancy.
The designations also ensure clean water for more than 40 million people by protecting the Colorado River region and its surrounding ecosystems.
President Biden’s move is one of the most ambitious land conservation efforts in U.S. history. While the use of the Antiquities Act to protect public lands is not new, the scale of this initiative sets it apart. The monuments advance California’s goal of conserving 30% of its lands and waters by 2030, aligning with global environmental targets.
“This is a major step forward,” Kelsey noted. “It’s a testament to the administration’s commitment to protecting our natural heritage.”
The Chuckwalla and Sáttítla Highlands National Monuments mark a milestone in the nation’s conservation history, ensuring that these landscapes and their ecological and cultural treasures will be preserved for generations to come.
