WASHINGTON — In a recently delayed announcement due to the severe wildfires in Los Angeles, President Joe Biden proclaimed two areas in California as national monuments, honoring Native American tribes while simultaneously protecting the breathtaking landscapes of mountains and deserts from mining and energy exploitation.
This announcement was made during a White House event, despite Biden’s initial intention to deliver the proclamation with a speech in the Eastern Coachella Valley of California. Originally scheduled for January 6, the president was only able to reach Los Angeles before high winds—contributing factors to the raging wildfires—led to the cancellation of his public appearance. This situation highlighted the worsening impact of climate change, which is intensifying natural disasters, even as the administration efforts to advance environmental protection.
Instead of the anticipated location, Biden addressed attendees alongside visuals that showcased majestic peaks, desert landscapes, and diverse ecosystems. “I was hoping we were going to do this in place,” he remarked. “This is as close as we could get.”
During the event, the president officially established the Chuckwalla National Monument in Southern California, adjacent to Joshua Tree National Park, along with the Sáttítla Highlands National Monument located in Northern California. These declarations will prohibit oil and natural gas drilling, mining, and other forms of resource extraction within the 624,000 acres (2,400 square kilometers) of the Chuckwalla area, and approximately 225,000 acres (800 square kilometers) near the California-Oregon border.
The protected regions host remarkable natural features such as the Painted Canyon of Mecca Hills and Alligator Rock and provide habitats for over 50 rare species, including the desert bighorn sheep and the Chuckwalla lizard—after which the monument is named, according to an official statement from the White House.
During the occasion, Biden reminisced about taking his children to national monuments across the nation every year during their childhood to showcase “the majesty, the beauty” of these areas. “Our national wonders are the heart and soul of this nation,” he emphasized. “It’s a birthright we pass on from generation to generation.”
The creation of these monuments aligns with previous requests from tribes. Various Native American tribes along with environmental organizations have advocated for the establishment of the Chuckwalla National Monument, while the Pit River Tribe has campaigned for the Sáttítla Highlands National Monument’s federal designation.
In a light-hearted moment, Biden mentioned the importance of pronouncing “Sáttítla” correctly, although he still struggled with it. Ultimately, when he proceeded to sign the documentation, he referred to it simply as the “highlands” monument, thus avoiding another attempt at pronunciation.
These new designations reflect a broader initiative from the Biden administration to conserve at least 30% of the nation’s lands and waters by the year 2030. This action comes on the heels of Biden’s recent measures, which prohibited new offshore oil and gas drilling in a majority of U.S. coastal areas, including parts of California. This was seen as a proactive step against potential expansion of offshore drilling by the upcoming Republican administration, which President-elect Donald Trump has stated he plans to reverse swiftly.
