CLF Statement on Trump Administration Proposal to Open Two Million Acres of California Desert Public Lands to Development
California - Today, the Conservation Lands Foundation released a statement from Elyane Stefanick, California Program Director, in response to the Trump Administration’s proposed changes to the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan (DRECP) and proposed removal of protections from 2.2 million acres of National Conservation Lands.
“This is a last-minute attempt by the Trump Administration to gut the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan and rollback protections for our National Conservation Lands. Local communities worked tirelessly to develop the DRECP and it represents an incredible agreement among all parties to balance conservation of public lands in the Desert while meeting renewable energy needs.
The proposed amendment - released with just a week before the inauguration of the new administration - will remove protections for over 2 million acres of California Desert National Conservation Lands. Our California Desert National Conservation Lands include special places where people enjoy outdoor recreation activities and protect cultural sites and critical wildlife habitat. These lands are important to the state’s goals to protect 30% of land and water by 2030 and are integral to how the region will adapt to climate change.
The California Desert National Conservation Lands were designated in 2009 by the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act and protected as part of the DRECP after eight years of input from many stakeholders and a process that resulted in thousands of public comments. To reopen the process now is unwelcome and unnecessary. Following the inauguration, we urge the Biden Administration to quickly stop this process of reopening the DRECP.”
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Conservation Lands Foundation published this page in Latest News 2021-01-13 17:36:43 -0700
