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America the Beautiful for All Coalition Leaders Applaud Biden-Harris Administration Chumash Announcement
WASHINGTON, DC (September 6, 2024) – The Biden-Harris Administration today announced a Final Environmental Impact Statement proposing the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. The new sanctuary will safeguard this unique and irreplaceable ecosystem along 116 miles of California’s coast from offshore oil expansion, acoustic testing, and other threats, while generating an estimated $23 million in economic activity and 600 new jobs for the local community.
Jasmin Graham, Executive Director, Minorities in Shark Science, stated: “I am deeply grateful to the Biden-Harris administration and the Northern Chumash Tribal Council for their unwavering commitment to preserving our marine ecosystems. Publishing the final management plan for the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary is a monumental achievement that honors the rich cultural heritage of the Chumash people and protects vital marine habitats. This sanctuary will serve as a beacon of hope and a model for future conservation efforts. Thank you for your dedication to safeguarding our oceans for generations to come.”
Angelo Villagomez, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress, stated: “This sanctuary honors the rich cultural heritage of the Chumash people and underscores a commitment to protecting our precious ocean resources for future generations. This is also an important step toward conserving 30 percent of the ocean in the United States. This is a moment of healing for our planet, but also for Indigenous communities around the world who have shown their support for this effort.”
Jenna Valente, Director of Advocacy, Healthy Ocean Coalition, stated: “I am thrilled to congratulate the Biden-Harris administration and the Northern Chumash Tribal Council on this important milestone for the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. This incredible achievement is a testament to your dedication to preserving our natural and cultural heritage. The sanctuary will play a crucial role in protecting marine biodiversity and supporting the resilience of our coastal communities. Thank you for your visionary leadership and for championing the cause of ocean conservation.”
As required by the National Environmental Policy Act, NOAA must wait 30 days after publication of the final environmental impact statement before making its final decision on designation. Following the 30 days, should NOAA decide to designate the sanctuary, the agency will release the final regulations and final management plan.
About Us:
The America the Beautiful for All Coalition is the largest and most representative national coalition consisting of more than 250 organizations working collectively to advance the national goal to protect 30% of US land, water and ocean by 2030 (30×30) and apply a Justice40 metric to that goal. These goals comprise national plans to thwart destruction of natural climate solutions; stem the loss of biodiversity; increase equitable access to nature’s benefits. Working across a range of missions, identities, communities and cultures, this coalition is leveraging the national 30×30 goal to write a new chapter of the American conservation movement where its leaders are more representative of the communities on the frontlines of these crises and where collective action leverages a range of lived and learned experience to drive community-based solutions into DC policy-making. www.americathebeautifulforall.org
Biden Administration Unveils Landmark National Forest Plan to Preserve Old Growth Forests and Combat Climate Change
WASHINGTON, DC (June 20, 2024) — The Biden Administration today announced a groundbreaking draft Environmental Impact Statement proposing a national forest plan amendment that would protect old growth forests and address the wildfire crisis across all 128 National Forest System land management plans.
The proposed plan aims to implement climate-informed, ecologically-based forest management, drawing on traditional Indigenous knowledge to recognize fire as an essential ecological process. This marks a significant proposed shift in federal forest management policy.
Jerry Otero, Grand Canyon Trust Policy Director, stated: “We support the Biden administration and the U.S. Forest Service for acting to ensure that old-growth and mature forests on public lands are thoughtfully and responsibly managed. These forests absorb 10% or more of our carbon pollution and are home to many birds, mammals, and invertebrates. Trees that have stood for over 1,000 years are vulnerable to forest mismanagement. We must ensure that our old-growth and mature forests are conserved and properly managed into the future.”
Public lands workgroup co-lead, America the Beautiful for All Coalition
Pat Gonzales-Rogers, Yale School of Environmental Justice Distinguished Practitioner in Residence, added: “Old-growth forests are from the original forests across the United States that were much inhabited by Native peoples. They were proven forest stewards and custodians and had a sustainable approach to managing forests that is still durable today. This plan advances and corners their invaluable knowledge and acknowledges and honors the historical indigenous relationships with our forests.”
Steering Committee, America the Beautiful for All Coalition
Ángel Peña, Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project Executive Director, commented: “Wildfires have a profound impact on our communities and cherished landscapes. Lincoln County, New Mexico, is currently going through a tragic wildfire, a place where many of our families here in southern New Mexico go to hunt, camp, and play, and the sacred home of the Mescalero Apache. At Nuestra Tierra, we recognize the importance of wildfire management and are committed to supporting efforts like the proposed National Forest Amendment and the America the Beautiful Initiative. This amendment would provide the framework we need to restore and manage our forests and watersheds while getting work done on the ground and providing jobs. This initiative is crucial in preserving our lands and ensuring they remain safe and accessible for future generations.”
Co-founding backbone team member, America the Beautiful for All Coalition
The announcement initiates a 90-day public comment period. The final Environmental Impact Statement is expected in October 2024, with the full amendment process to be completed in early 2025.
The America the Beautiful for All Coalition stands behind bold and urgent action to protect mature and old growth forests – a major step toward the national 30×30 goal. We urge the Administration to heed the feedback from Indigenous communities and other communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis to ensure meaningful consultation and produce a final amendment informed by community needs.
Without this intervention, our forests will continue to disappear from logging and other development and to burn at high severity, putting communities, human health, recreation and natural spaces at risk. A century of fire policy that failed to understand the role fire must play in ecosystem health has disrupted natural wildfire patterns, allowing unnatural underbrush and turning some forests into tinderboxes. Any wildfire strategy that fails to consider old-growth will never be able to achieve truly climate resilient, healthy forests. Old growth trees are a natural climate ally we cannot afford to lose.
About Us:
The America the Beautiful for All Coalition is the largest and most representative national coalition consisting of more than 250 organizations working collectively to advance the national goal to protect 30% of US land, water and ocean by 2030 (30×30) and apply a Justice40 metric to that goal. These goals comprise national plans to thwart destruction of natural climate solutions; stem the loss of biodiversity; increase equitable access to nature’s benefits. Working across a range of missions, identities, communities and cultures, this coalition is leveraging the national 30×30 goal to write a new chapter of the American conservation movement where its leaders are more representative of the communities on the frontlines of these crises and where collective action leverages a range of lived and learned experience to drive community-based solutions into DC policy-making. www.americathebeautifulforall.org
America the Beautiful for All Coalition Praises Biden Administration’s Conservation and Landscape Health Rule
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 19, 2024) —The America the Beautiful for All Coalition praised the Biden Harris Administration’s announcement on Thursday of the final Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Conservation and Landscape Health rule.
The important modernization of BLM practices aligns with the coalition’s 2024 policy agenda, which lays out a host of actions that the Administration and Congress can take to advance the goal of conserving 30% of US lands, freshwater, and oceans by 2030 through a Justice40 lens.
BLM lands represent nearly 40% of America’s most iconic and vital public lands. They are home to culturally and ecologically significant places sacred to Tribes and many communities.
The Conservation and Landscape Health Rule is a crucial step towards achieving the administration’s America the Beautiful Initiative and Justice40 goals–and rural, frontline, and communities of color will need continued support to protect lands deep in their culture and stories.
Below are statements from members of the coalition.
“This rulemaking is historic. For the first time, BLM lands will now be able to meet their full potential as multiple-use landscapes. People may now actively restore degraded and polluted lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management. They will be able to sequester more excess carbon than ever while protecting cultural objects and increasing recreation opportunities even for the most vulnerable and underserved communities. More than 19 million acres of BLM land are within 10 miles of underserved and nature-deprived community members in the southwest.” said Mark Magaña, Founding President and CEO of GreenLatinos, America the Beautiful for All Coalition Co-chair. “We look forward to the implementation of this rule across the nation and landscapes managed to conserve the histories embodied in these landscapes.”
“Secretary Haaland and the Biden administration have stood strong for our public lands. The final conservation rule is an important step forward in improving public lands management. We are now counting on the Biden administration to act boldly to use and expand these tools to ambitiously address climate change and to work to ensure the durability and economic viability of conservation efforts prescribed in the rule now and for future generations.”
– Jerry Otero, America The Beautiful For All Coalition Public Lands Workgroup Co-lead; Legislative and Policy Director, Grand Canyon Trust
“We applaud the Biden administration’s decision to implement the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM’s) Public Lands Rule to address nature loss and climate change, preserve cultural areas, better protect wildlife habitat, and safeguard outdoor access and recreational opportunities. The Rule is long overdue. The Public Lands Rule clarifies that the BLM is to manage its lands in a manner that puts restoration and mitigation on equal footing with other uses of those lands. Nearly 40% of all U.S. public lands (and about 15% of those lands in California) are overseen by the BLM. We commend the Biden administration for recognizing the importance of our nation’s public lands to our environment, local economies and quality of life.”
– André Sanchez, Community Engagement and Conservation Policy Manager, CalWild
“With increasing impacts of climate change, including drought and wildfires, the BLM Conservation and Landscape Health rule comes at a critical time. It provides the exciting opportunity to lease lands for habitat restoration or for mitigating other uses – a game changer for wildlife and for communities and families near these lands. The rule also has beneficial impacts on the numerous surrounding public lands, such as national parks and forests. Wildlife will have more room to roam, and the many underserved communities living near BLM lands will benefit from improved air and water quality, and more chances to enjoy these beautiful places. Importantly, the specific acknowledgment of the requirement for BLM to respect and incorporate Indigenous Knowledge into management decisions and the direction to seek opportunities for Tribal co-stewardship are valuable components of the rule. Now, nature as well as the original stewards of these public lands are explicitly recognized.”
– Priya Nanjappa, America The Beautiful For All Coalition Public Lands Workgroup Co-lead; Vice President of Conservation Programs, National Parks Conservation Association
“The Biden-Harris Administration’s finalization of the BLM Conservation and Landscape Health rule marks a victory for public health and children’s health. This rule will restore degraded habitats on public lands and will positively impact public health by preserving these natural environments and ecosystems. Protecting public lands will protect clean water, promote physical activity, and mitigate risks from climate change, which will also support communities most at risk.”
– Nsedu Obot Witherspoon, Executive Director of Children’s Environmental Health Network, America the Beautiful for All Coalition Co-chair.
About Us:
The America the Beautiful for All Coalition consists of over 250 organizations working collectively to thwart the rapidly advancing impacts of climate change; stem the loss of biodiversity; increase more equitable access to nature’s benefits; and ensure at least 40% of conservation spending occurs in communities of color and frontline communities that have historically seen little to no conservation investments. Member organizations range in focus from urban parks and green space, Indigenous rights, public lands protection, public health, wildlife, outdoor recreation and freshwater and ocean conservation — all representative of identities and issue areas that have traditionally been underrepresented in conservation decision-making in the United States.
National Coalition Announces Forward-looking Federal Policy Agenda for Conservation and Environmental Justice
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 12, 2024) – A historically broad and diverse coalition of hundreds of organizations is announcing the release of a unified and ambitious 2024 national policy agenda aimed at conserving 30 percent of lands and waters by 2030. The America the Beautiful For All Coalition (ATB4All) comprises people representing hundreds of organizations, missions, cultures, and identities. The Coalition developed the 2024 Policy Agenda to achieve the most ambitious conservation goal of the century.
The ATB4All Coalition views the loss of nature as a global and national threat with potentially devastating impacts on communities nationwide. According to their research, if past trends continue, the United States can expect to lose an additional 15.3 million acres of nature over the next 10 years. Currently, 34 percent of plants and 40 percent of animals are at risk of extinction, and 41 percent of ecosystems are at risk of collapse. Nature disparities add to racial injustices, too: 74 percent of communities of color in the contiguous United States live in nature-deprived areas, compared with just 23 percent of white communities. The impacts of these trends disproportionately harm communities of color and communities on the frontlines of the nature-loss and climate change crises.
“The climate crisis exacerbates environmental injustice in communities nationwide and beyond. It is imperative that we do not overlook the social determinants of health with any proposed solutions,” said Nsedu Obot Witherspoon, Co-chair of ATB4All & Executive Director, Children’s Environmental Health Network. “Disruptions in food access, daily routines, increased health risks, displacement of families, and their exposure to harmful pollution are all too common. To combat these serious challenges, our policy agenda prioritizes climate justice, and equitable access to natural spaces and integrates conservation efforts with the critical principles of environmental justice and public health protections. This approach is part of key climate mitigation strategies and a step towards a healthier, more just society.”
This Policy Agenda emphasizes public health and justice-oriented priorities for conserving the ocean, freshwater, public land, wildlife, and urban parks and green space. The Agenda is the Coalition’s central tool for collective action as we move the Biden Administration and Congress to meet the twin goals of conservation and environmental justice.
“By uniting this diverse group of organizations and stakeholders to tackle the most ambitious conservation goal in our nation’s history, we are ensuring that we live in a future where access to nature is equitable, and conservation efforts are guided by justice,” said Mark Magaña, ATB4ALL Co-Chair and Founder & CEO of GreenLatinos. Mark continues, “At the heart of this policy agenda, our goal is that those communities closest to the problem are driving the solutions. Our network of environmental and conservation champions is uniquely capable of addressing the continued devastating impacts of the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and inequitable access to nature for our people.”
The 2024 Policy Agenda includes a progress report on action, risks, and backsliding on 2023 Policy Agenda priorities. It highlights:
- More than $141 million America the Beautiful Challenge Grants in 2023 with 40% of funds going to Tribal communities.
- Extremist attacks on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) continue in pursuit of so-called “permitting form” and the guise of supporting renewable energy. These are diversion tactics meant to weaken the environmental bill of rights for communities.
- The waiving of critical environmental laws like the Endangered Species Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Clean Air Act in the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge (TX) border wall expansion.
- Ensuring marine protected area management and implementation.
- Enacting a Bureau of Land Management Rulemaking to modernize 245 million acres of public lands management.
- Expanding access to existing open space through community use agreements.
- A host of new and expanded priorities, including bolstering the Farm Bill, increasing access to conservation funding for native communities, restoring natural river systems, establishing a national biodiversity strategy, and other steps.
About Us:
The America the Beautiful for All Coalition consists of 150 organizations working collectively to thwart the rapidly advancing impacts of climate change; stem the loss of biodiversity; increase more equitable access to nature’s benefits; and ensure at least 40 percent of conservation spending occurs in communities of color and frontline communities that have historically seen little to no conservation investments. Member organizations range in focus from urban parks and green space, Indigenous rights, public lands protection, public health, wildlife, outdoor recreation and freshwater and ocean conservation — all representative of identities and issue areas that have traditionally been underrepresented in conservation decision-making in the United States.
America the Beautiful for All Coalition Praises Biden-Harris Administration’s Executive Order on Tribal Self-Determination
Order Highlights the Administration’s Commitment to Respecting and Ensuring Tribal Sovereignty and Self-Determination
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Dec. 13, 2023) — The America the Beautiful for All Coalition praises the Biden-Harris Administration’s signing of an Executive Order reforming federal funding and better supporting tribal rights to self-determination. The order includes provisions intended to make it easier for tribes to access federal funds while adding flexibility and eliminating onerous reporting requirements.
The order signed this week at the White House Tribal Nations Summit advances a number of the Coalition’s priority policy items and core principles articulated in our 2023 Policy Agenda:
- Tribal sovereignty is at the core of the nation’s capacity to achieve 30×30 and steward healthy ecosystems.
- Co-management and co-stewardship of public lands, waters, and species by Tribes, Native Hawaiians, Alaska Natives, and Territories offer immense opportunities for advancing 30×30 with an emphasis on justice.
- Agencies should proactively seek direct input from Indigenous people, communities of color, and frontline communities most vulnerable to pollution, climate change, and nature loss.
- Numerous barriers that prevent or inhibit under-resourced communities, Tribes, Native Hawaiians, Alaska Natives, Territories, nonprofits and community organizations from accessing existing federal funding must be analyzed and solved, in partnership with local communities.
By the administration’s own account, far too many of the federal support programs Tribes rely on “are difficult to access, have overly burdensome federal reporting requirements, have unnecessary limitations, or impose requirements on Tribes that drain Tribal resources and undermine their ability to make their own decisions about where and how to meet the needs of their communities.”
The America the Beautiful for All Coalition is committed to the ongoing work of advocating for and supporting reforms like the ones announced this week, and will continue to hold the administration accountable for making progress on these shared goals.
Below are quotes from Coalition leaders:
Kevin Chang, Steering Committee Member, America the Beautiful for All Coalition; Executive Director, Kuaʻāina Ulu ʻAuamo
“Little action followed since the 1993 US apology for the illegal overthrow of the Hawaiian Nation to address the need to “provide the proper foundation for reconciliation between the United States and the Native Hawaiian people” and acknowledge that “the health and well-being of the Native Hawaiian people is intrinsically tied to their deep feelings and attachment to the land.” Mahalo nui (thank you) to Secretary Haaland, Chair Brenda Mallory and their teams for bringing action beyond rhetoric. We celebrate these steps and hope to see more action in Hawaiʻi in the spirit of co-stewardship and partnership and a workforce and sentiment that reflects the environmental values of our community.”
Greg Masten, Yurok; Workgroup Co-lead, America the Beautiful for All Coalition; National Congress of American Indians Foundation President:
“For decades the federal government has promoted Tribal self-determination and sovereignty with varying degrees of success. It’s long past time to reform how the government funds and supports Tribal Nations. This week’s announcement helps ensure the autonomy of Tribal Nations, and makes progress toward respecting the fundamental right of a people to determine their own destiny. This in turn supports the conditions in which co-management and co-stewardship relationships–critical to achieving 30×30 goals–can be grown and maintained.”
Pat Gonzales-Rogers, Steering Committee Member, America the Beautiful for All Coalition; Lecturer and Distinguished Practitioner in Residence, Yale School of the Environment and Yale Center for Environmental Justice
“Tribal co-management is truly a force multiplier. It places real decision making in the hands of our original stewards. It allows for traditional knowledge to instruct the management of our large landscapes, and it provides real license and agency for Native communities to practice their theology and cultural traditions in a meaningful way. It is effective and practical environmental justice in real time.”
About Us:
The America the Beautiful for All Coalition consists of nearly 200 organizations working collectively to thwart the rapidly advancing impacts of climate change; stem the loss of biodiversity; increase more equitable access to nature’s benefits; and ensure at least 40% of conservation spending occurs in communities of color and frontline communities that have historically seen little to no conservation investments. Member organizations range in focus from urban parks and green space, Indigenous rights, public lands protection, public health, wildlife, outdoor recreation and freshwater and ocean conservation — all representative of identities and issue areas that have traditionally been underrepresented in conservation decision-making in the United States.
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America the Beautiful for All Coalition Praises Historic Levels of Funding for Tribally-led Projects from Administration and NFWF, Congratulates America the Beautiful Challenge Grant Recipients
Grants highlight the administration’s commitment to ensuring 40% of climate investment is made in Frontline and Communities of Color that have historically received little to none, despite bearing the worst impacts from climate change
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Nov. 14, 2023) — The America the Beautiful for All Coalition today praised the administration and National Fish and Wildlife’s announcement of $141.3 million for the second round of America the Beautiful Challenge grants.
The 74 new grants will support landscape-scale conservation projects across 46 states, three U.S. Territories, and 21 Tribal Nations, and will generate at least $13 million in matching contributions for a total conservation impact of more than $153 million.
The approximately 40 percent of funding that will support projects implemented by Indigenous communities represents an unprecedented level of funding dedicated to Tribally-led projects for a NFWF grant program. This second round of grants demonstrates a 4x increase in Tribal and Indigenous-led projects from the first round of awards.
As in the previous round of submissions in 2022, there was far greater demand for this funding than there were dollars to allocate. More than 100 Tribally-led projects were submitted and did not receive funding in the second round of awards. Private philanthropy has an opportunity to work with America the Beautiful for All Coalition members including Native Americans in Philanthropy, the new National Congress of American Indians Foundation, and others to close the gap and fund these under-funded projects through to completion. Progress on the largest conservation goal of the century relies on it and so do the local communities who have identified challenges and defined conservation solutions.
Below are statements from the Coalition’s Co-chairs:
Nsedu Obot Witherspoon, Co-chair, America the Beautiful for All Coalition; Executive Director, Children’s Environmental Health Network:
“Today’s announcement of over $141 million for the America the Beautiful Challenge grants underscores a powerful commitment to health, justice, and landscape-scale conservation. This funding heralds a groundbreaking era for environmental health and for our most vulnerable population: children. This is not just an investment in our environment but a testament to the collaborative strength shaping the future of conservation—a future where diverse voices and communities play a pivotal role in protecting our shared landscapes.”
Mark Magaña, Co-chair, America the Beautiful for All Coalition; Founding President and CEO, Green Latinos:
“Today, the Biden Administration and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) are taking bold steps to advance the America the Beautiful Initiative goals. By generating these significant investments in on-the-ground projects, our communities will be resourced toward ensuring 30×30 goals are met, including continued advancement in local conservation and restoration priorities. Simultaneously, these efforts enhance community resilience and broaden access to nature, particularly for thousands of communities that encounter daily barriers to connecting with nature.
The cumulative impact on Tribal-led projects will be unprecedented through this second round of challenge grants. By allocating 40 percent of these grants to Indigenous-led projects supporting and benefitting Indigenous communities, we begin to turn the tide of the systemic injustices these communities have faced for decades.
As proud members of the America the Beautiful for All Coalition, we eagerly anticipate collaborating with the Biden Administration, NFWF, and local Indigenous communities to ensure that the allocated funding reaches the communities and conservation projects that need it most.
About Us:
The America the Beautiful for All Coalition consists of nearly 200 organizations working collectively to thwart the rapidly advancing impacts of climate change; stem the loss of biodiversity; increase more equitable access to nature’s benefits; and ensure at least 40% of conservation spending occurs in communities of color and frontline communities that have historically seen little to no conservation investments. Member organizations range in focus from urban parks and green space, Indigenous rights, public lands protection, public health, wildlife, outdoor recreation and freshwater and ocean conservation — all representative of identities and issue areas that have traditionally been underrepresented in conservation decision-making in the United States.
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America the Beautiful for All Coalition Praises Establishment of Wyoming Toad Conservation Area and Paint Rock River National Wildlife Refuge
Refuges Highlight the Administration’s Commitment to Protecting America’s Public Lands and the Benefits They Provide to People, Wildlife Habitat and Climate Change Resilience
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct. 16, 2023) —The America the Beautiful for All Coalition today praised the designation of the Wyoming Toad Conservation Area and Paint Rock River National Wildlife Refuge during National Wildlife Refuge Week, a week that highlights the Refuge System’s role in protecting wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation access, aw well as making communities across the country more climate resilient.
The new refuges are the result of decades-long, locally-led efforts, and represent progress toward conserving our nation’s lands and waters and achieving 30×30 goals with a justice lens–and specifically toward priorities outlined in our Coalition’s 2023 Policy Agenda.
“I can’t think of a better way to celebrate our wildlife heritage than the creation of two new refuges to help ensure that future generations of Americans can enjoy the same plants and animals that we do today,” said Tara Thorton, America the Beautiful for All Coalition Wildlife Workgroup Co-lead, and Deputy Director of the Endangered Species Coalition.
The lands included in these new Wildlife Refuges are also the past and present lands of Tribes and Indigenous people. For the Paint Rock River area in Tennessee that includes the Chickasaw, Cherokee, Shawnee and Yuchi, and for the Wyoming Toad Conservation Area it includes Arapaho, Cheyenne and Oceti Sakowin (known to some as the Sioux Nation). The Coalition is committed to ensuring that in every case where lands are being considered for federal protections the process must include meaningful consultation with affected Tribes and Nations–with sufficient advance notice––as required by federal law.
Further, the consultation should be pre-decisional and shall recognize and respect Tribal self-government and sovereignty; identify and consider Tribal treaty rights, reserved rights, and other rights; and respect and elevate Indigenous Knowledge.
The Paint Rock River National Wildlife Refuge is part of a unique ecosystem with aquatic, terrestrial, and karst habitats that support threatened and endangered species including gray bats, Indiana bats, Tennessee cave salamanders and Alabama cave shrimp, and 150 species of fish and freshwater mussels–including some that are found nowhere else in the world.
The Wyoming Toad Conservation Area provides critical habitat for one of the most endangered amphibians in North America, the Wyoming toad. The area will also support the conservation of the white-tailed prairie dog, pronghorn and migratory birds, while providing future public access to the Laramie River and opportunities for hiking, fishing, hunting, and wildlife observation.
About Us:
The America the Beautiful for All Coalition consists of nearly 200 organizations working collectively to thwart the rapidly advancing impacts of climate change; stem the loss of biodiversity; increase more equitable access to nature’s benefits; and ensure at least 40% of conservation spending occurs in communities of color and frontline communities that have historically seen little to no conservation investments. Member organizations range in focus from urban parks and green space, Indigenous rights, public lands protection, public health, wildlife, outdoor recreation and freshwater and ocean conservation — all representative of identities and issue areas that have traditionally been underrepresented in conservation decision-making in the United States.
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The America the Beautiful for All Coalition Statement on President Biden Bypassing Bedrock Environmental Laws to Rush Border Wall Damaging to Families, Wildlife and Sacred Tribal Sites
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Oct. 5, 2023) —The America the Beautiful For All Coalition today condemned the Biden Administration announcement that 26 federal laws would be waived to speed construction of a barrier through border communities and a wildlife refuge in the Rio Grande Valley.
The nation’s bedrock environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, National Environmental Policy Act and Endangered Species Act, exist to protect our shared resources and ensure people have the right to breathe clean air, drink clean water, and live in a healthy community. Bypassing these laws to speed construction of a border wall President Biden once called “a waste of money” is a flawed decision that disproportionately impacts communities of color and will cause irreparable harm to sacred tribal sites and wildlife habitat. Historically disadvantaged communities and landowners along the border bear the brunt of this political posturing as the only places where waiver authority has been used to bypass decades of protective laws passed by Congress.
Below are statements from Coalition Co-chairs and Workgroup Co-leads:
Mark Magaña, Founding Co-chair, America the Beautiful for All Coalition; Founding President & CEO, GreenLatinos:
“Today, our community is left reeling over the unconscionable decision from President Joe Biden’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and the DHS executive team. We’re appalled that our comunidad and madre tierra were cast aside to continue constructing the Trump border wall.
We stood firm when the Trump Administration first proposed to construct additional, unnecessary border walls between the United States and Mexico. We defended our people, their community, and the surrounding majestic lands that exist in the southern border region. Today, with a different administration, we unexpectedly find ourselves needing to again take a stand in defense of our people and our land. We do not forget that in 2020, Joe Biden campaigned on not building another foot of Trump’s border wall.
This disastrous decision not only continues a legacy of xenophobia and racism left by the previous administration but is also a slap in the face to Latino/a/e communities who live, work, and play in the southern border region. By moving forward with this new order, this administration makes it loud and clear that they intend to propagate the continued marginalization of our people but also discard the hard work our ancestors have done as devoted stewards of the lands they call home.
Make no mistake. We will stand firm against this decision and call for an immediate reversal of this decision. We will tirelessly stand up against all those who seek to divide us with destructive border walls rather than unite us – and continue to defend our families, children, health, land, waters, and environment from further degradation.”
Angel Peña, Strategic Advisor, America the Beautiful for All Coalition; Executive Director, Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project:
As a first-generation Mexican American, I was born and raised on the Southern Border, and am raising my own family here. I founded the Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project here and have worked to protect the region’s intact Chihuahuan Desert landscapes for all to enjoy. The actions announced by the Biden Administration yesterday are an affront to Frontera residents, who have already borne the brunt of xenophobia, mass shootings, a pandemic, and the militarization of our border.
Our public lands and environment are deeply intertwined with issues of justice, race, and equity, and these actions will ensure that Fronterizos have even less opportunity to find solace, comfort, and equitable access to the outdoors right here in their own community. The bypassing of bedrock environmental laws also leaves the door open to the destruction of sacred Tribal sites, without the Tribal consultation enshrined in those laws.
As an organization born on the border, we’re keenly aware that President Biden was elected in part on promises to stop–not fast-track–construction of a useless wall that divides communities and destroys the unique desert landscapes that people and wildlife call home. Our immigration system requires real work to fix, not political stunts with destructive and long-term consequences. Border communities will once again bear the impacts, and we have had enough.”
Martin Castro, Freshwater Workgroup Co-lead, America the Beautiful for All Coalition; Watershed Science Director, Rio Grande International Study Center:
“We strongly oppose the recent decision by the Biden Administration to waive dozens of federal laws to expedite border wall construction in Starr County, Texas. While border security is essential, it should not come at the expense of our environment, communities, and principles of environmental justice. The approach by the Department of Homeland Security disproportionately affects communities of color and runs counter to our values. It’s a stark environmental justice issue as these waivers happen nowhere else in the United States, except on the border.
It is vital that we respect the cultural and environmental significance of these areas and take measures to protect them. Much of the habitat slated for border wall construction is an increasingly rare and unique type of ecosystem known as the Tamaulipan Thornscrub, a habitat found nowhere else in the United States that–once bulldozed–will take over 500 years to return to its original state.
We urge the Department of Homeland Security and the Biden administration to reconsider these actions and take into account the environmental justice implications and the potential harm to border communities. We call for a more comprehensive and compassionate approach to border security that respects the rights and well-being of all individuals and preserves the natural beauty of our shared environment.”
Tara Thornton, Wildlife Workgroup Co-lead, America the Beautiful for All Coalition; Deputy Director, Endangered Species Coalition:
“President Biden’s announcement to waive the Endangered Species Act and build a wall through a National Wildlife Refuge will specifically impact several endangered species including the critically endangered ocelot. With less than 60 ocelots remaining in the wild in the U.S., this wall will slice across vital habitat and undermine hope for ocelot recovery.”
About Us:
The America the Beautiful for All Coalition consists of nearly 200 organizations working collectively to thwart the rapidly advancing impacts of climate change; stem the loss of biodiversity; increase more equitable access to nature’s benefits; and ensure at least 40% of conservation spending occurs in communities of color and frontline communities that have historically seen little to no conservation investments. Member organizations range in focus from urban parks and green space, Indigenous rights, public lands protection, public health, wildlife, outdoor recreation and freshwater and ocean conservation — all representative of identities and issue areas that have traditionally been underrepresented in conservation decision-making in the United States.
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The America the Beautiful for All Coalition Thanks Biden-Harris Administration for Actions Protecting America’s Arctic
These actions highlight the Administration’s commitment to long-term climate and conservation solutions that protect people, wildlife and ecosystems
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 18, 2023) — The America the Beautiful for All Coalition thanks the Biden Administration for their leadership and decisive action that will protect diverse landscapes across America’s Arctic while recognizing the importance of Alaska’s public lands and waters for Alaska Native communities, biodiversity and our global climate.
“We applaud the Biden Administration for their progress towards protecting more than 13 million acres of public lands in America’s Arctic, taking bold action to support healthy communities and explore co-stewardship opportunities with Tribes, protect biodiversity, and advance climate progress. As a coalition of nearly 200 organizations we thank President Biden and the agencies involved in this historic suite of actions, including the cancellation of leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. We look forward to seeing broad participation in the ongoing public comment periods,” said Maddie Halloran, America the Beautiful for All Coalition Member and Alaska State Director for the Alaska Wilderness League.
“The permanent and full conservation of Arctic landscapes is foundational to a healthy public lands system and its ability to ameliorate the climate crisis and rapid loss of biodiversity. Average temperatures in the Arctic are increasing about four times as fast as the rest of the globe, making it a frontline of climate change. But what happens in the Arctic doesn’t stay there. Continued fossil fuel extraction and the subsequent damage inflicted through climate change affects us all.”
These announcements mark significant progress towards three key Coalition Policy Agenda priorities: to support increased opportunities for co-management & co-stewardship of public lands & waters with Tribes, Native Hawaiians, Alaska Natives, and Territories, to reject projects that would exacerbate the climate crisis, harm communities, or critical ecosystems, and to phase out new federal drilling and support a just transition to renewable energy.
About Us:
The America the Beautiful for All Coalition consists of nearly 200 organizations working collectively to thwart the rapidly advancing impacts of climate change; stem the loss of biodiversity; increase more equitable access to nature’s benefits; and ensure at least 40% of conservation spending occurs in communities of color and frontline communities that have historically seen little to no conservation investments. Member organizations range in focus from urban parks and green space, Indigenous rights, public lands protection, public health, wildlife, outdoor recreation and freshwater and ocean conservation — all representative of identities and issue areas that have traditionally been underrepresented in conservation decision-making in the United States.
The America the Beautiful for All Coalition Celebrates Precedent-Setting Investments in Urban Tree-Planting in Disadvantaged Communities by the Biden-Harris Administration
An historic $1 Billion investment in providing access to trees, green spaces and parks for all 50 states, U.S. Territories, and Tribes shows deep commitment to community health and resilience
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 14, 2023) — The America the Beautiful for All Coalition commends USDA Secretary Vilsack’s announcement of this significant commitment to addressing nature deprivation and its consequences. Today’s announcement will yield improvements in equitable access to nature, mitigate urban heat island effects, improve air quality, and improve health in our communities. The U.S. Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program is a critical part of investing in and protecting against the many threats facing communities as a result of climate change and nature loss.
We are grateful for the work of the awardees around the country for stewarding these critical nature-based solution investments and listening to local voices on how to best meet community needs. As advocates for applying a Justice40 metric to the America the Beautiful Initiative, we are thrilled to see this demonstrated leadership by the Administration in prioritizing local climate resilience and making access to nature more equitable for communities of color and frontline communities.
Below are statements from co-chairs of the America the Beautiful for All Coalition and members of the Coalition’s Urban Parks & Greenspace workgroup,
Mark Magaña, Co-chair, America the Beautiful for All Coalition; Founding President & CEO, GreenLatinos:
“Tree Planting and Urban forestry is the most direct and impactful way to ameliorate the life-threatening impacts of urban heat and nature deprivation which frontline communities have suffered for generations. Increased urban forestry, planned and managed by communities, serves public health and heals the natural world. Urban forestry sequesters carbon, provides habitat, and mitigates dangerous urban heat island effects caused by the climate crisis.
Today, the Biden Administration proved we can have our trees and climb in them too by giving frontline communities the opportunity to increase tree canopy in their cities with these historic and unprecedented investments. We thank the Biden Administration for their track record in listening to America, trusting community leadership, and making significant progress towards Justice40. GreenLatinos is proud to be among the recipients of these funds, and we say ‘Mil felicidades’ to the numerous other Coalition members who have been awarded grants to support this important work.”
Nsedu Obot Witherspoon, Co-chair, America the Beautiful for All Coalition; Executive Director, Children’s Environmental Health Network:
“Access to green space is critical to children’s physical and mental health and development as well as to the health and resilience of their communities in our changing climate. For too long, this access has not been equitable throughout the US. We commend the Biden-Harris Administration on this historic investment to expand access to trees and green spaces in communities across the country, especially in our under-resourced neighborhoods and communities of color.”
About Us:
The America the Beautiful for All Coalition consists of nearly 200 organizations working collectively to thwart the rapidly advancing impacts of climate change; stem the loss of biodiversity; increase more equitable access to nature’s benefits; and ensure at least 40% of conservation spending occurs in communities of color and frontline communities that have historically seen little to no conservation investments. Member organizations range in focus from urban parks and green space, Indigenous rights, public lands protection, public health, wildlife, outdoor recreation and freshwater and ocean conservation — all representative of identities and issue areas that have traditionally been underrepresented in conservation decision-making in the United States.
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Biden-Harris Administration proposes new Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary off California Coast
An historic moment for Tribally-led ocean conservation and precedent-setting proposal for inclusive and collaborative partnerships among federal, state, and local governments, and California Native American Tribes
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Aug 24, 2023) —The proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary would span 134 miles of the Central California coast, from Hazard Canyon Reef, south of Morro Bay, to an area just south of Dos Pueblos Canyon – the site of one of the largest historical Chumash villages along the Gaviota Coast. It would safeguard this unique and irreplaceable ecosystem from offshore oil expansion, acoustic testing, and other threats. It would also generate an estimated $23 million in economic activity and create 600 new jobs for the local community.
The America the Beautiful for All Coalition urges NOAA to expedite the designation process and ensure that the voices of the Chumash people and other Indigenous voices are heard and respected.
Below are statements from three members of the America the Beautiful for All Coalition’s Ocean Workgroup:
Mike Khus-Zarate, Northern Chumash Tribal Council, AtB4All Ocean Workgroup member
“Our Chumash people and friends who have worked so hard and waited so long for designation of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary should be pleased with reaching this milestone in a truly historic journey. We know that we must finish this important task with the same spirit of life and love for those whom we call “all of our Relations”: the ocean creatures of our stories and songs, our ancestors who paddled their tomols here for thousands of years and for all the generations yet to come who will call our beautiful coast ‘home.’”
Helen Smith, Creation Justice Ministries, AtB4All Ocean Workgroup Co-lead:
“I am thrilled to see that the Biden administration has taken a significant step towards designating the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, the first tribally nominated sanctuary in the U.S. This is a historic moment for the Northern Chumash Tribe and all the Indigenous peoples who have stewarded this land and ocean for millennia. I fully support their leadership and perseverance in advancing this grassroots effort to protect their sacred sites, cultural heritage, and marine biodiversity.”
Angelo Villagomez, Center for American Progress, AtB4All Ocean Workgroup Co-lead:
“As a proud Chamorro from the Mariana Islands, I understand the importance of elevating Indigenous perspectives and values in ocean conservation.The Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary would set a precedent for inclusive and collaborative partnerships among federal, state, and local governments, and California Native American Tribes. It would also contribute to the global goal of protecting at least 30% of the world’s ocean by 2030. I look forward to celebrating the establishment of this sanctuary and witnessing its benefits for generations to come.”
About Us:
The America the Beautiful for All Coalition consists of nearly 200 organizations working collectively to thwart the rapidly advancing impacts of climate change; stem the loss of biodiversity; increase more equitable access to nature’s benefits; and ensure at least 40% of conservation spending occurs in communities of color and frontline communities that have historically seen little to no conservation investments. Member organizations range in focus from urban parks and green space, Indigenous rights, public lands protection, public health, wildlife, outdoor recreation and freshwater and ocean conservation — all representative of identities and issue areas that have traditionally been underrepresented in conservation decision-making in the United States.
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America The Beautiful For All Coalition Statement on Designation of Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni National Monument
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Aug 8, 2023) —The America the Beautiful For All Coalition today released the following statement from Greg Masten, (Yurok, Hupa, Karuk), NCAI Foundation President, and America the Beautiful For All Coalition, Priorities, Projects and Campaigns Workgroup Co-Chair:
“Today’s designation of Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni National Monument, President Biden’s fifth national monument, is another important step toward the 30×30 goals set forth in the America the Beautiful Initiative. It also represents meaningful action on our Coalition’s 2023 Policy Agenda: using the Antiquities Act to preserve our nation’s irreplaceable treasures–like the 3,000 known cultural and historic sites protected within the new national monument–and supporting Tribally-led conservation efforts while incorporating Indigenous Knowledge and Tribal co-stewardship.
“Tribes have always had a sacred connection to this landscape since time immemorial. This monument, advocated by the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition over many years, will help chart a new path toward full deference and respect of Tribes and protecting against the significant loss of natural and culturally significant places. While there’s more work to be done, today we’re thankful to the Biden Administration and the Tribes who led this effort for moving us closer to the goals set out in the America The Beautiful Initiative, and putting us on a path that ensures all Americans today and in the future can have a healthy and habitable country.”
About Us:
The America the Beautiful for All Coalition consists of nearly 200 organizations working collectively to thwart the rapidly advancing impacts of climate change; stem the loss of biodiversity; increase more equitable access to nature’s benefits; and ensure at least 40% of conservation spending occurs in communities of color and frontline communities that have historically seen little to no conservation investments. Member organizations range in focus from urban parks and green space, Indigenous rights, public lands protection, public health, wildlife, outdoor recreation and freshwater and ocean conservation — all representative of identities and issue areas that have traditionally been underrepresented in conservation decision-making in the United States.
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America The Beautiful For All Coalition Statement on Designation of Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 25, 2023) — In response to the Biden Administration’s designation today of the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument, the America The Beautiful For All Coalition released the following statement from Jerry Otero, Public Lands Workgroup Co-Lead:
“When America’s public lands reflect a more complete American story, more people see themselves and their stories, even painful truths that teach us hard lessons. The Till family has yet to see justice despite nearly seven decades having passed. A monument is a worthy and deserving designation to ensure we preserve history and learn from the past, and to use these lessons in our pursuit of fairness and justice for all.
“We appreciate the Biden Administration for listening to the American public and using the Antiquities Act–as called for in our 2023 Policy Agenda–to protect and preserve these critical places and stories. However more work is needed to include America’s full history – especially critical stories from communities of color left to the margins of many in the stories told through our public lands. It is designations like the new Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument that will inspire more people to protect the public lands that in turn protect us from the worst effects of climate change, support public health, and sustain our economies and ways of life. Today’s designation moves us a step closer to our goal of conserving 30% of our lands and waters by 2030, and ensuring that frontline communities receive the investment they have long been denied.”
About Us:
The America the Beautiful for All Coalition consists of nearly 200 organizations working collectively to thwart the rapidly advancing impacts of climate change; stem the loss of biodiversity; increase more equitable access to nature’s benefits; and ensure at least 40% of conservation spending occurs in communities of color and frontline communities that have historically seen little to no conservation investments. Member organizations range in focus from urban parks and green space, Indigenous rights, public lands protection, public health, wildlife, outdoor recreation and freshwater and ocean conservation — all representative of identities and issue areas that have traditionally been underrepresented in conservation decision-making in the United States.
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America The Beautiful For All Coalition Celebrates the Reintroduction of Half Earth Resolution to Protect Biodiversity
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 27, 2023) — A joint statement below from Mark Magaña, Founding Member And Co-chair, America The Beautiful For All Coalition; Founding President & CEO of GreenLatinos, and Nsedu Obot Witherspoon, Founding Member And Co-chair, America The Beautiful For All Coalition; Executive Director, Children’s Environmental Health Network:
“We welcome and celebrate the reintroduction of the Half Earth Resolution by Representative Don Beyer to the United States House of Representatives last week as an important step towards protecting half the Earth’s land and sea in order to ensure the long-term health of our planet. With rising temperatures and other undeniable consequences of climate change before our eyes and already affecting frontline communities–most often Indigenous and communities of color–the time is now for the United States government and states around the world to take action that prioritizes the protection of our planet and its biodiversity. The health and well-being of current and future generations depend on it, and we’re thankful to Representative Beyer for championing this urgent cause.
The Half Earth Resolution not only confirms the need for conserving at least 50% of our planet but also encourages diplomatic efforts to achieve this goal globally. The resolution was introduced on International Day for Biological Diversity and is based on work by American biologist Dr. E.O. Wilson. His work contributed to the 30×30 climate goals–protection of 30% of our lands and waters by 2030 that, along with the Justice 40 Initiative, are the twin advocacy goals of the America The Beautiful For All Coalition.”
About Us:
The America the Beautiful for All Coalition consists of nearly 200 organizations working collectively to thwart the rapidly advancing impacts of climate change; stem the loss of biodiversity; increase more equitable access to nature’s benefits; and ensure at least 40% of conservation spending occurs in communities of color and frontline communities that have historically seen little to no conservation investments. Member organizations range in focus from urban parks and green space, Indigenous rights, public lands protection, public health, wildlife, outdoor recreation and freshwater and ocean conservation — all representative of identities and issue areas that have traditionally been underrepresented in conservation decision-making in the United States.
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America The Beautiful For All Coalition Hosts First Annual D.C. Fly-in
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 4, 2023) — The America the Beautiful For All Coalition hosted its first annual D.C. fly-in last week, bringing nearly 100 conservation and climate advocates to the nation’s capitol. Fly-in participants came from as far away as the Mariana Islands and Maine, Washington to Puerto Rico, and dozens of states and communities in between.
Some highlights:
- Meetings with Center for Environmental Quality (CEQ), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Interior (DOI), US Forest Service (USFS).
- 21 Congressional Offices & two Congressional Committees (Senate Environment & Public Works and House Natural Resources Committee)
- An evening on the Anacostia River with Secretary Haaland and Dr. Dorceta Taylor.
- Congressional luncheon with the House Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition featuring Vernice Miller Travis & Brian O’Donnell.
- Panels and presentations on progress and the path ahead for increased support of Indigenous-led conservation as well as national clean water and public health trends.
Thank you to our tireless advocates!
About Us:
The America the Beautiful for All Coalition consists of 150 organizations working collectively to thwart the rapidly advancing impacts of climate change; stem the loss of biodiversity; increase more equitable access to nature’s benefits; and ensure at least 40% of conservation spending occurs in communities of color and frontline communities that have historically seen little to no conservation investments. Member organizations range in focus from urban parks and green space, Indigenous rights, public lands protection, public health, wildlife, outdoor recreation and freshwater and ocean conservation — all representative of identities and issue areas that have traditionally been underrepresented in conservation decision-making in the United States.
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America The Beautiful For All Coalition Celebrates
Bureau of Land Management Public Lands Rule Announced Today
WASHINGTON, DC (March 30, 2023) — A joint statement below from Mark Magaña, Founding Member And Co-chair, America The Beautiful For All Coalition; Founding President & CEO of GreenLatinos, and Nsedu Obot Witherspoon, Founding Member And Co-chair, America The Beautiful For All Coalition; Executive Director, Children’s Environmental Health Network:
“Today, we celebrate the Biden Harris Administration’s announcement of the draft Bureau of Land Management Public Lands rule. Earlier this year, our coalition released a policy agenda with twenty actions that this Administration and Congress can take to advance the goal of conserving 30% of US lands, freshwater and ocean by 2030 through a Justice40 lens. In just two months, we have seen action by the Biden Administration on several priorities.
“BLM lands represent nearly 40% of America’s most iconic and vital public lands. Prioritizing conservation and Tribal co-stewardship in the BLM mission will buffer nearly 250 million acres against the worst impacts of climate change, including wildfire and extreme weather. It will help safeguard clean water, air and wildlife habitat while regenerating a diverse and passionate agency workforce which is essential to protecting public health and cultural connections to the land. The Public Lands Rule is a crucial step towards achieving the administration’s America the Beautiful Initiative goals–and rural, frontline, and communities of color will need continued support to protect lands that run deep in their culture and stories.”
Statement from Tara Thornton, Wildlife Workgroup Co-Lead, America The Beautiful For All Coalition; Deputy Director for the Endangered Species Coalition:
“Today’s historic announcement by the Biden Administration to “rebalance” the mission of the Bureau of Land Management couldn’t come soon enough. As we face a biodiversity crisis that scientists estimate could spell the extinction for millions of species in the next several decades, protecting these public lands will offer a lifeline to those most vulnerable species.”
Statement from Jerry Otero, Public Lands Workgroup Co-Lead, America The Beautiful For All Coalition; Policy Director for the Grand Canyon Trust:
“The America the Beautiful for All Public Lands Group supports the proposed Bureau of Land Management rulemaking that modernizes outdated land management policies. This rulemaking moves us in the right direction to provide needed policy balance for co-management and co-stewardship, reducing pollution on public lands, protecting sensitive cultural resources, and creating meaningful opportunities for historically excluded at risk communities. This effort will help advance the America the Beautiful for All Coalition mission, a once in a generation opportunity to protect and preserve public lands and reduce climate change causing carbon emissions by 2030.”
About Us:
The America the Beautiful for All Coalition consists of 150 organizations working collectively to thwart the rapidly advancing impacts of climate change; stem the loss of biodiversity; increase more equitable access to nature’s benefits; and ensure at least 40% of conservation spending occurs in communities of color and frontline communities that have historically seen little to no conservation investments. Member organizations range in focus from urban parks and green space, Indigenous rights, public lands protection, public health, wildlife, outdoor recreation and freshwater and ocean conservation — all representative of identities and issue areas that have traditionally been underrepresented in conservation decision-making in the United States.
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America The Beautiful For All Coalition Applauds Monument Designations and Other Community-Driven Actions Announced Today
WASHINGTON, DC (March 21, 2023) — Statements below from America The Beautiful For All Steering Committee Members on the Biden Administration’s Conservation in Action Day, and major announcements representing progress on the America The Beautiful For All Coalition’s 2023 Policy Platform and anchored by the 30 by 30 Climate and Justice40 initiatives.
Mark Magaña, Founding Member And Co-chair, America The Beautiful For All Coalition; Founding President & CEO of GreenLatinos:
““Today the White House has made significant progress toward alleviating the contemporaneous climate, biodiversity, and nature deprivation crises affecting all Americans, especially the most vulnerable communities. 150 organizations came together to create the America the Beautiful for All Policy Agenda which highlights the significant needs of America’s underserved communities and our most pressing land, freshwater and ocean conservation priorities. Today’s land and ocean victories are critical solutions to the climate crisis, but they will prove to be sheer folly if we don’t beat our addiction to fossil fuels and stop new drilling. Like today’s announcements and proclamations, President Biden’s future conservation priorities must be aligned with community-led initiatives to conserve America The Beautiful for the benefit of all our future generations.”
Nsedu Obot Witherspoon, Founding Member And Co-chair, America The Beautiful For All Coalition; Executive Director, Children’s Environmental Health Network:
“Movement forward by the Biden Administration is critical to advancing health, justice, and conservation goals for all. We are pleased to see acknowledgement and actions identified that have been recommended as part of the America The Beautiful For All 2023 Policy Platform.
Jamie Williams, Founding Member of the America the Beautiful for All Coalition; President of The Wilderness Society:
“Today’s announcements from the White House put the U.S. on track to help every community win back a healthy future—starting with strengthening protections for the public lands that supply our drinking water, clean air, and abundant natural areas to explore and cherish. If we work quickly, act together, and invest generously in its well-being, this renowned system of lands and waters has the power to fight climate change, support the resources critical to public health, and conserve the irreplaceable landscapes that are home to our shared and diverse history.”
Chris Hill, Senior Director, Sierra Club’s Our Wild America campaign:
“We are at a critical moment in our effort to take on climate change, and actions like what we saw today must become the norm, not the exception. We applaud the Biden Administration for today’s announcements, which will help move us forward in achieving the most ambitious conservation goal in the history of the country, but we need more of these actions, and fewer destructive projects like Willow that threaten to undo the climate progress we have made.
“We need more national monuments that honor the people who shaped these landscapes and connect communities to nature, more protections for public lands and forests, and more habitats and species safeguarded from destruction. The Administration has the power to achieve these things, but only if they act boldly.”
Greg Masten, Yurok, VP Tribal Nations Engagement and Special Projects, Native Americans In Philanthropy:
“This pledge is historic in showing the commitment to Tribal Nations and Tribal Ecological Knowledge to support biodiversity conservation efforts. The investments and commitments of $102.5 million from our philanthropic partners is a powerful demonstration of a people-centered vision. And, it is a call to action for other foundations to join our Tribal Nations Conservation Pledge and Funding Collaborative.”
Kim Moore Bailey, President and CEO, Justice Outside:
“As an organization working for equity in the outdoors and environmental sectors, Justice Outside welcomes the steps taken by the Biden administration today to protect culturally important areas. We also recognize that this is only one step in the direction of righting historic and present day injustices and inequities and protecting our lands and waters. We urge the administration to center community wellbeing and sustainability because the health of current and future generations demands it.”
Teresa Martinez (she/hers/ella), Executive Director, Continental Divide Trail Coalition:
“The designation of the Castner Range and Avi Kwa Ame National Monuments continues to build on the legacy of America the Beautiful. As the cost of the climate crisis becomes more clear, ensuring the conservation and connectivity of these biologically diverse, culturally significant areas becomes ever more important. By protecting these special places, the Administration is elevating the voices of the local communities, who have led these protection efforts and who stand the most to benefit from the protection of these places they call home, more access to connect to these landscapes, and greater opportunities to connect with one another in the outdoors. We hope to see even more momentum for this legacy of community-led conservation continue to build, to ensure that future stewardship of landscapes like these preserves the history of the land while creating a path forward for all to enjoy the benefits of protected lands and waters.”
Jerry Otero, Public Lands Co-lead & Policy Director at Grand Canyon Trust:
“Designation of Avi Kwa Ame and Castner Range national monuments shows action and collaboration by President Biden at a pivotal time in our nation’s history. Long overdue engagement of Tribes and the Latino community shows President Biden’s meaningful commitment to working with tribal governments and communities who have historically been excluded from these important decisions. We are a better nation today with the designation of Avi Kwa Ame and Castner Range National Monuments.
The America the Beautiful for All Coalition fully supports President Biden’s use of the Antiquities Act to designate, protect and preserve these two important landscapes with significant ecological and cultural significance. We encourage President Biden and Secretary Haaland to continue to ambitiously advance and build the America the Beautiful work which will protect critical landscapes but also contribute to the full telling of our collective history.”
Dr. Tracy Farrell, North America Director, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN):
“IUCN membership includes governments, government agencies, NGO’s and indigenous peoples’ organizations from over 160 countries, and the office in North America commends the Biden Administration on the progress announced today on many of the community-led campaigns and climate-protecting asks in the America The Beautiful For All’s 2023 Policy Platform. There is much work to do to ensure a healthy future for people and the places they live, and we support these steps in the right direction.”
Katie Huffling, Executive Director, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments:
“Access to green space has numerous health benefits, including promoting physical and mental health and supporting emotional well-being. Yet, for far too long, whether one has access to the healing power of nature has been dictated by community resources, income, and historical policies intended to exclude folks. As nurses we strongly support the Biden Administration’s commitment to conserve at least 30% of land, water, and ocean by 2030 while ensuring that those historically deprived from accessing green space realize the benefits of investments. The conservation commitments announced today are critical investments that will support the health of Americans for generations to come.”
About Us:
The America the Beautiful for All Coalition consists of 150 organizations working collectively to thwart the rapidly advancing impacts of climate change; stem the loss of biodiversity; increase more equitable access to nature’s benefits; and ensure at least 40% of conservation spending occurs in communities of color and frontline communities that have historically seen little to no conservation investments. Member organizations range in focus from urban parks and green space, Indigenous rights, public lands protection, public health, wildlife, outdoor recreation and freshwater and ocean conservation — all representative of identities and issue areas that have traditionally been underrepresented in conservation decision-making in the United States.
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National Coalition Launches Community and Equity-Driven Agenda for Nature
Coalition brings diverse experiences to the frontline fight
that will save 30 percent of US land, fresh water and ocean by 2030
WASHINGTON, DC (January 27, 2023) — On the anniversary of the Biden Administration’s ambitious call to save 30 percent of land, fresh water and ocean in the United States by 2030, a one-of-a-kind coalition has released its policy agenda to achieve continental-scale conservation by embracing equitably distributed funding and community-led policies and projects. The America the Beautiful for All Coalition is the largest and most diverse coalition ever assembled for the most ambitious land and water conservation goal ever set in the United States.
LATEST NEwS
Join us in advocating for and celebrating progress toward our shared goals
America The Beautiful For All Coalition Celebrates the Reintroduction of Half Earth Resolution to Protect Biodiversity
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 27, 2023) — A joint statement below from Mark Magaña, Founding Member And Co-chair, America The Beautiful For All Coalition; Founding President & CEO of GreenLatinos, and Nsedu Obot Witherspoon, Founding Member And Co-chair, America The Beautiful For All Coalition; Executive Director, Children’s Environmental Health Network:
“We welcome and celebrate the reintroduction of the Half Earth Resolution by Representative Don Beyer to the United States House of Representatives last week as an important step towards protecting half the Earth’s land and sea in order to ensure the long-term health of our planet. With rising temperatures and other undeniable consequences of climate change before our eyes and already affecting frontline communities–most often Indigenous and communities of color–the time is now for the United States government and states around the world to take action that prioritizes the protection of our planet and its biodiversity. The health and well-being of current and future generations depend on it, and we’re thankful to Representative Beyer for championing this urgent cause.
The Half Earth Resolution not only confirms the need for conserving at least 50% of our planet but also encourages diplomatic efforts to achieve this goal globally. The resolution was introduced on International Day for Biological Diversity and is based on work by American biologist Dr. E.O. Wilson. His work contributed to the 30×30 climate goals–protection of 30% of our lands and waters by 2030 that, along with the Justice 40 Initiative, are the twin advocacy goals of the America The Beautiful For All Coalition.”
About Us:
The America the Beautiful for All Coalition consists of nearly 200 organizations working collectively to thwart the rapidly advancing impacts of climate change; stem the loss of biodiversity; increase more equitable access to nature’s benefits; and ensure at least 40% of conservation spending occurs in communities of color and frontline communities that have historically seen little to no conservation investments. Member organizations range in focus from urban parks and green space, Indigenous rights, public lands protection, public health, wildlife, outdoor recreation and freshwater and ocean conservation — all representative of identities and issue areas that have traditionally been underrepresented in conservation decision-making in the United States.
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America The Beautiful For All Coalition Hosts First Annual D.C. Fly-in
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 4, 2023) — The America the Beautiful For All Coalition hosted its first annual D.C. fly-in last week, bringing nearly 100 conservation and climate advocates to the nation’s capitol. Fly-in participants came from as far away as the Mariana Islands and Maine, Washington to Puerto Rico, and dozens of states and communities in between.
Some highlights:
- Meetings with Center for Environmental Quality (CEQ), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Interior (DOI), US Forest Service (USFS).
- 21 Congressional Offices & two Congressional Committees (Senate Environment & Public Works and House Natural Resources Committee)
- An evening on the Anacostia River with Secretary Haaland and Dr. Dorceta Taylor.
- Congressional luncheon with the House Sustainable Energy & Environment Coalition featuring Vernice Miller Travis & Brian O’Donnell.
- Panels and presentations on progress and the path ahead for increased support of Indigenous-led conservation as well as national clean water and public health trends.
Thank you to our tireless advocates!
About Us:
The America the Beautiful for All Coalition consists of 150 organizations working collectively to thwart the rapidly advancing impacts of climate change; stem the loss of biodiversity; increase more equitable access to nature’s benefits; and ensure at least 40% of conservation spending occurs in communities of color and frontline communities that have historically seen little to no conservation investments. Member organizations range in focus from urban parks and green space, Indigenous rights, public lands protection, public health, wildlife, outdoor recreation and freshwater and ocean conservation — all representative of identities and issue areas that have traditionally been underrepresented in conservation decision-making in the United States.
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America The Beautiful For All Coalition Celebrates
Bureau of Land Management Public Lands Rule Announced Today
WASHINGTON, DC (March 30, 2023) — A joint statement below from Mark Magaña, Founding Member And Co-chair, America The Beautiful For All Coalition; Founding President & CEO of GreenLatinos, and Nsedu Obot Witherspoon, Founding Member And Co-chair, America The Beautiful For All Coalition; Executive Director, Children’s Environmental Health Network:
“Today, we celebrate the Biden Harris Administration’s announcement of the draft Bureau of Land Management Public Lands rule. Earlier this year, our coalition released a policy agenda with twenty actions that this Administration and Congress can take to advance the goal of conserving 30% of US lands, freshwater and ocean by 2030 through a Justice40 lens. In just two months, we have seen action by the Biden Administration on several priorities.
“BLM lands represent nearly 40% of America’s most iconic and vital public lands. Prioritizing conservation and Tribal co-stewardship in the BLM mission will buffer nearly 250 million acres against the worst impacts of climate change, including wildfire and extreme weather. It will help safeguard clean water, air and wildlife habitat while regenerating a diverse and passionate agency workforce which is essential to protecting public health and cultural connections to the land. The Public Lands Rule is a crucial step towards achieving the administration’s America the Beautiful Initiative goals–and rural, frontline, and communities of color will need continued support to protect lands that run deep in their culture and stories.”
Statement from Tara Thornton, Wildlife Workgroup Co-Lead, America The Beautiful For All Coalition; Deputy Director for the Endangered Species Coalition:
“Today’s historic announcement by the Biden Administration to “rebalance” the mission of the Bureau of Land Management couldn’t come soon enough. As we face a biodiversity crisis that scientists estimate could spell the extinction for millions of species in the next several decades, protecting these public lands will offer a lifeline to those most vulnerable species.”
Statement from Jerry Otero, Public Lands Workgroup Co-Lead, America The Beautiful For All Coalition; Policy Director for the Grand Canyon Trust:
“The America the Beautiful for All Public Lands Group supports the proposed Bureau of Land Management rulemaking that modernizes outdated land management policies. This rulemaking moves us in the right direction to provide needed policy balance for co-management and co-stewardship, reducing pollution on public lands, protecting sensitive cultural resources, and creating meaningful opportunities for historically excluded at risk communities. This effort will help advance the America the Beautiful for All Coalition mission, a once in a generation opportunity to protect and preserve public lands and reduce climate change causing carbon emissions by 2030.”
About Us:
The America the Beautiful for All Coalition consists of 150 organizations working collectively to thwart the rapidly advancing impacts of climate change; stem the loss of biodiversity; increase more equitable access to nature’s benefits; and ensure at least 40% of conservation spending occurs in communities of color and frontline communities that have historically seen little to no conservation investments. Member organizations range in focus from urban parks and green space, Indigenous rights, public lands protection, public health, wildlife, outdoor recreation and freshwater and ocean conservation — all representative of identities and issue areas that have traditionally been underrepresented in conservation decision-making in the United States.
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America The Beautiful For All Coalition Applauds Monument Designations and Other Community-Driven Actions Announced Today
WASHINGTON, DC (March 21, 2023) — Statements below from America The Beautiful For All Steering Committee Members on the Biden Administration’s Conservation in Action Day, and major announcements representing progress on the America The Beautiful For All Coalition’s 2023 Policy Platform and anchored by the 30 by 30 Climate and Justice40 initiatives.
Mark Magaña, Founding Member And Co-chair, America The Beautiful For All Coalition; Founding President & CEO of GreenLatinos:
““Today the White House has made significant progress toward alleviating the contemporaneous climate, biodiversity, and nature deprivation crises affecting all Americans, especially the most vulnerable communities. 150 organizations came together to create the America the Beautiful for All Policy Agenda which highlights the significant needs of America’s underserved communities and our most pressing land, freshwater and ocean conservation priorities. Today’s land and ocean victories are critical solutions to the climate crisis, but they will prove to be sheer folly if we don’t beat our addiction to fossil fuels and stop new drilling. Like today’s announcements and proclamations, President Biden’s future conservation priorities must be aligned with community-led initiatives to conserve America The Beautiful for the benefit of all our future generations.”
Nsedu Obot Witherspoon, Founding Member And Co-chair, America The Beautiful For All Coalition; Executive Director, Children’s Environmental Health Network:
“Movement forward by the Biden Administration is critical to advancing health, justice, and conservation goals for all. We are pleased to see acknowledgement and actions identified that have been recommended as part of the America The Beautiful For All 2023 Policy Platform.
Jamie Williams, Founding Member of the America the Beautiful for All Coalition; President of The Wilderness Society:
“Today’s announcements from the White House put the U.S. on track to help every community win back a healthy future—starting with strengthening protections for the public lands that supply our drinking water, clean air, and abundant natural areas to explore and cherish. If we work quickly, act together, and invest generously in its well-being, this renowned system of lands and waters has the power to fight climate change, support the resources critical to public health, and conserve the irreplaceable landscapes that are home to our shared and diverse history.”
Chris Hill, Senior Director, Sierra Club’s Our Wild America campaign:
“We are at a critical moment in our effort to take on climate change, and actions like what we saw today must become the norm, not the exception. We applaud the Biden Administration for today’s announcements, which will help move us forward in achieving the most ambitious conservation goal in the history of the country, but we need more of these actions, and fewer destructive projects like Willow that threaten to undo the climate progress we have made.
“We need more national monuments that honor the people who shaped these landscapes and connect communities to nature, more protections for public lands and forests, and more habitats and species safeguarded from destruction. The Administration has the power to achieve these things, but only if they act boldly.”
Greg Masten, Yurok, VP Tribal Nations Engagement and Special Projects, Native Americans In Philanthropy:
“This pledge is historic in showing the commitment to Tribal Nations and Tribal Ecological Knowledge to support biodiversity conservation efforts. The investments and commitments of $102.5 million from our philanthropic partners is a powerful demonstration of a people-centered vision. And, it is a call to action for other foundations to join our Tribal Nations Conservation Pledge and Funding Collaborative.”
Kim Moore Bailey, President and CEO, Justice Outside:
“As an organization working for equity in the outdoors and environmental sectors, Justice Outside welcomes the steps taken by the Biden administration today to protect culturally important areas. We also recognize that this is only one step in the direction of righting historic and present day injustices and inequities and protecting our lands and waters. We urge the administration to center community wellbeing and sustainability because the health of current and future generations demands it.”
Teresa Martinez (she/hers/ella), Executive Director, Continental Divide Trail Coalition:
“The designation of the Castner Range and Avi Kwa Ame National Monuments continues to build on the legacy of America the Beautiful. As the cost of the climate crisis becomes more clear, ensuring the conservation and connectivity of these biologically diverse, culturally significant areas becomes ever more important. By protecting these special places, the Administration is elevating the voices of the local communities, who have led these protection efforts and who stand the most to benefit from the protection of these places they call home, more access to connect to these landscapes, and greater opportunities to connect with one another in the outdoors. We hope to see even more momentum for this legacy of community-led conservation continue to build, to ensure that future stewardship of landscapes like these preserves the history of the land while creating a path forward for all to enjoy the benefits of protected lands and waters.”
Jerry Otero, Public Lands Co-lead & Policy Director at Grand Canyon Trust:
“Designation of Avi Kwa Ame and Castner Range national monuments shows action and collaboration by President Biden at a pivotal time in our nation’s history. Long overdue engagement of Tribes and the Latino community shows President Biden’s meaningful commitment to working with tribal governments and communities who have historically been excluded from these important decisions. We are a better nation today with the designation of Avi Kwa Ame and Castner Range National Monuments.
The America the Beautiful for All Coalition fully supports President Biden’s use of the Antiquities Act to designate, protect and preserve these two important landscapes with significant ecological and cultural significance. We encourage President Biden and Secretary Haaland to continue to ambitiously advance and build the America the Beautiful work which will protect critical landscapes but also contribute to the full telling of our collective history.”
Dr. Tracy Farrell, North America Director, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN):
“IUCN membership includes governments, government agencies, NGO’s and indigenous peoples’ organizations from over 160 countries, and the office in North America commends the Biden Administration on the progress announced today on many of the community-led campaigns and climate-protecting asks in the America The Beautiful For All’s 2023 Policy Platform. There is much work to do to ensure a healthy future for people and the places they live, and we support these steps in the right direction.”
Katie Huffling, Executive Director, Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments:
“Access to green space has numerous health benefits, including promoting physical and mental health and supporting emotional well-being. Yet, for far too long, whether one has access to the healing power of nature has been dictated by community resources, income, and historical policies intended to exclude folks. As nurses we strongly support the Biden Administration’s commitment to conserve at least 30% of land, water, and ocean by 2030 while ensuring that those historically deprived from accessing green space realize the benefits of investments. The conservation commitments announced today are critical investments that will support the health of Americans for generations to come.”
About Us:
The America the Beautiful for All Coalition consists of 150 organizations working collectively to thwart the rapidly advancing impacts of climate change; stem the loss of biodiversity; increase more equitable access to nature’s benefits; and ensure at least 40% of conservation spending occurs in communities of color and frontline communities that have historically seen little to no conservation investments. Member organizations range in focus from urban parks and green space, Indigenous rights, public lands protection, public health, wildlife, outdoor recreation and freshwater and ocean conservation — all representative of identities and issue areas that have traditionally been underrepresented in conservation decision-making in the United States.
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National Coalition Launches Community and Equity-Driven Agenda for Nature
Coalition brings diverse experiences to the frontline fight
that will save 30 percent of US land, fresh water and ocean by 2030
WASHINGTON, DC (January 27, 2023) — On the anniversary of the Biden Administration’s ambitious call to save 30 percent of land, fresh water and ocean in the United States by 2030, a one-of-a-kind coalition has released its policy agenda to achieve continental-scale conservation by embracing equitably distributed funding and community-led policies and projects. The America the Beautiful for All Coalition is the largest and most diverse coalition ever assembled for the most ambitious land and water conservation goal ever set in the United States.