DENVER – Designating 450,000 acres of public land in southern Nevada as the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument will restore wildlife habitat, connect crucial wildlife migration pathways, preserve ancient cultural and Indigenous sites, and boost the rural economies of surrounding communities. The National Wildlife Federation heralded Interior Secretary Deb Haaland’s visit to the area and urged the Biden Administration to swiftly designate it as a national monument. 

“A diverse coalition of Nevadans have come together to highlight the urgent need to protect Avi Kwa Ame, which is home to a wide array of wildlife, sacred Indigenous sites, and ancient Joshua tree forests. Designating this area as a national monument will also expand opportunities for outdoor recreation and benefit neighboring communities,” said Andrew Black, public lands field director at the National Wildlife Federation. “It’s time for the Biden Administration to further its conservation goals by permanently protecting this important ecosystem and sacred landscape.”

“Desert bighorn sheep depend on migration pathways to find food and water. Designating Avi Kwa Ame as a national monument will help connect wildlife habitat in the surrounding region so that bighorn sheep and other species can make this journey safely,” said Russell Kuhlman, executive director of the Nevada Wildlife Federation. “Thank you, Secretary Haaland, for taking the time to visit this important landscape. Conserving and restoring wildlife habitat in the Avi Kwa Ame region means that Nevada’s wildlife heritage will thrive for future generations.”