Sunday, July 11, 2021 | 2 a.m.
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As the years pass, we learn that not all ideas stand the test of time. The Antiquities Act, however, remains timeless.
Passed 115 years ago, it gives a U.S. president the power to declare by public proclamation historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest on land owned or controlled by the federal government to be national monuments.
Our national monuments are places where we vacation, bring our kids to appreciate our country, and attract international tourists. The Antiquities Act is responsible for 158 national monuments; places like the Grand Canyon and Denali were first protected by the Antiquities Act and later redesignated as national parks. These lands are essential to our history, culture and economy.
The Antiquities Act has a built-in system of checks and balances, like public input periods. Plus, as it states, “the president can only protect the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected.” Congress, after a lengthy legislative process, can also issue a national monument designation. But the Antiquities Act is a swift solution to protect areas that are in jeopardy.
Nevada is rich in history and geologic wonder, yet we have just three national monuments: Tule Springs Fossil Beds (2014), Basin and Range (2015), and Gold Butte (2016), accounting for just over 1 million of our 48 million acres of public lands. We must take immediate action to add another to that list — Avi Kwa Ame.
Mojave for “Spirit Mountain,” Avi Kwa Ame is a 380,000-acre proposed national monument sandwiched between Lake Mead National Recreation Area and the Mojave National Preserve in California. In addition to being full of outdoor recreation opportunities, it’s home to important habitats for the desert tortoise as well as cultural and historic sites.
Its landscape is full of wonder: giant Joshua trees, petroglyphs and natural springs offering a lush oasis and breathtaking granite rock sculptures that line the hillsides. It is easy to understand why this area is sacred for 12 Native tribes. The area holds their history; it is a part of their creation stories. And that means it’s a part of our state’s heritage too. There is a lot at stake.
If designated a national monument, Avi Kwa Ame would create a massive contiguous block of conserved land. It could become one of our country’s most significant contributions to the global 30 by 30 initiative, meant to safeguard land, water and wildlife, and ensure all people have access to the natural world. According to scientists, 30% is the bare minimum needed to buffer against the worst climate change scenarios.
Locally, gateway communities like Searchlight and Boulder City have shown support, with both town councils voting unanimously to support the effort. Groups like the International Dark Skies Association and Las Vegas Astronomy Society support the designation because Nevada’s dark skies are a precious commodity that must be preserved; 80% of Americans live under some type of light pollution and can no longer see the Milky Way.
The Boulder City Chamber of Commerce also supports its designation because outdoor recreation is a significant economic driver in Nevada. In 2019, outdoor recreation accounted for nearly $5.5 billion in economic output and sustained more than three times as many jobs like mining. In addition, Headwaters Economics recently reported that national monument designations also energize local economies, attracting visitors and allowing communities to grow authentically.
This year, an application was filed by an overseas developer to build a wind farm on Avi Kwa Ame land. While the climate crisis demands that we rapidly shift to renewable energy sources, we cannot do so by destroying our few remaining wild spaces. Residents, conservation groups and outdoor enthusiasts understand how this jeopardizes a unique and meaningful landscape. But unfortunately, this is not the first time there’s been a threat of industrial development, and until this land is protected, it won’t be the last. Aldo Leopold noted in A Sand County Almanac that “a thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability, and beauty of the (environment). It is wrong when it tends otherwise.”
This is where the Antiquities Act can play a crucial role for Nevada. The Biden administration must use it to designate Avi Kwa Ame Nevada’s fourth national monument. It is the right thing to do.
Melissa Giovanni is a geologist and professor of environmental science at the College of Southern Nevada and an avid outdoor enthusiast. She serves as faculty adviser to CSN’s environmental student club.
