President Biden Designates Avi Kwa Ame and Castner Range National Monuments

Washington, D.C. -  Today, President Joe Biden designated Avi Kwa Ame (Ah-VEE kwa-meh) in Southern Nevada and Castner Range in Texas as national monuments. 

In November 2022 during the annual White House Tribal Nations Summit, President Biden announced his intention to designate Avi Kwa Ame in Southern Nevada as a national monument and last March, Interior Secretary Haaland visited Castner Range in Texas. 

Today, the President honored his commitment to Tribal leaders, elected officials, businesses, recreationists, and local communities by designating Avi Kwa Ame and Castner Range as national monuments via the Antiquities Act.

Below is a statement from Brian Sybert, Executive Director for Conservation Lands Foundation, in response to the President’s action on Avi Kwa Ame National Monument:

“Today’s action by President Biden to designate Avi Kwa Ame a national monument honors the decades-long efforts to protect this sacred area and creates a corridor of protection from the Mojave Preserve in California to Lake Mead National Recreation Area on the Arizona/Nevada border. 

“We are grateful President Biden heard the calls of Tribal leaders; federal, state and local governments; businesses; and advocates from Indigenous, outdoor recreation, conservation and many other communities to permanently protect this sacred landscape by use of the Antiquities Act.

“We are thrilled Avi Kwa Ame will now be a part of the National Conservation Lands, alongside some of the most spectacular natural, historical, cultural and archaeological sites in the country, including places like Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante which President Biden helped restore early in his administration. We look forward to continuing to work with his administration, our Friends Grassroots Network, Tribal nations and elected officials to designate other places worthy of protection. 

“Avi Kwa Ame is home to Nevada’s largest Joshua Tree, critical desert tortoise habitat, and several sites of cultural and historic significance. Its designation as a national monument is a bold step forward towards achieving the goals of this Administration’s America the Beautiful goals.” 

The public can hear about the importance of Avi Kwa Ame National Monument from members of the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe and local community members at AviKwaAme.com. Learn more about Castner Range National Monument here. 

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About Conservation Lands Foundation

Conservation Lands Foundation leads the only national movement of grassroots advocates to protect, restore and expand National Conservation Lands. CLF is headquartered in Durango, Colorado with field offices throughout the West and in Washington, D.C. For more information, visit conservationlands.org.