Local Conservationists Seek National Monument Expansion For Berryessa
Tuleyome Praises President Biden for Avi Kwa Ame and Castner Range Designations
Sacramento, CA — Today, Tuleyome applauded President Joe Biden for establishing the Avi Kwa Ame and Castner Range National Monuments and urged him to use his authority under the Antiquities Act to expand Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument in Northern California.
Tribal and community leaders and elected officials have united behind the effort to protect the area along the eastern edge of the existing Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument known as Molok Luyuk. Molok Luyuk is Patwin for “Condor Ridge” and is a name provided by the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation.
The expansion of the national monument would safeguard public lands that are sacred to the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation and are critically important to protect in the face of a changing climate.
Sandra Schubert, Executive Director of Tuleyome, issued this statement:
“Tuleyome thanks President Biden for acting to protect significant public lands and designating the Avi Kwa Ame and Castner Range National Monuments. We add our voice in celebrating the conservation of these important landscapes.
We ask him to further exercise his authority under the Antiquities Act to expand Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument in Northern California to include Molok Loyuk. The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation has a long and significant connection to this area, stretching back thousands of years. We are working with them to return to an Indigenous name for these lands and to establish co-management with federally recognized Tribes.
This region is a critical wildlife corridor between the existing monument and other protected areas for species such as tule elk, mountain lions, and black bears. Protecting their habitat will help preserve biodiversity and allow for continued wildlife migration amid a changing climate. It will also help the State of California and the Biden Administration reach their shared goal of protecting 30% of public lands and waters by 2030.
The expansion of Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument would also help improve access to the outdoors for the region’s residents who enjoy these lands for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and other outdoor activities.”
Representatives John Garamendi and Mike Thompson and Senators Alex Padilla and Dianne Feinstein have championed legislation to permanently protect Molok Loyuk as a national monument and have joined Tribal and community leaders in supporting all approaches, including the President’s use of the Antiquities Act, to protect the area. The Antiquities Act is a 1906 law that grants presidents the ability to designate federal public lands, waters, and cultural and historical sites as national monuments to permanently conserve them.
To learn more about this effort and to sign a petition in support of the expansion of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, visit www.expandberryessa.org.
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About Tuleyome
Formed in 2002, Tuleyome is a regional non-profit organization headquartered in Woodland, CA, with a footprint throughout the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument region. Tuleyome is a Lake Miwok Indian word that means “deep home place,” illustrating our organization’s deep connection to our environment, our communities and our regional lands. Tuleyome’s mission is to provide advocacy and active stewardship to conserve, enhance, restore, and enjoy lands in the Northern Inner Coast Range region. Working with partners, we have protected vast areas of public lands, from large swaths such as the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument and Cache Creek State Wild and Scenic River to Woodland Regional Park Preserve. For more information, visit https://www.tuleyome.org/.
Contact
Veronica Avila, veronica@fcpcommunications.com, 661-805-8462
