BOULDER CITY COUNCIL PASSES RESOLUTION SUPPORTING PROTECTION OF PROPOSED AVI KWA AME NATIONAL MONUMENT
Boulder City Council continues its leadership in conservation and promoting the growth of outdoor recreation tourism.
LAS VEGAS (March 24, 2021)
It was another big win for the proposed Avi Kwa Ame National Monument on Tuesday, March 23, as the Boulder City Council unanimously approved a resolution supporting protect of monument lands. Spearheaded by Councilmember Adams, the resolution points out that the northern boundary of the proposed monument borders the Boulder City Conservation Easement Area, extending the benefits of the conservations easement’s objectives.
“Boulder City has a proud history of conserving our surrounding desert landscape that all of us hold so dearly,” said Councilmember Adams. “Passing this resolution was one of my proudest moments on council because it continued that great tradition.”
During the meeting, Councilmember Tracy Folda pointed out support for protecting Avi Kwa Ame would continue Boulder City’s long-standing position as a conservation leader. Councilmember Judith Hoskins deemed the area very worthy of protection.
“The proposed boundaries for Avi Kwa Ame National Monument were developed to link existing protected areas such as the Boulder City Conservation Area to include critical migratory routes and elevational and transitional zones and niches,” said Alan O’Neill, National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) advisor who attended the meeting. “Due to climate change, connecting habitats across varied landscapes enables plants and animals to shift ranges and survive in new locations.”
Neal Desai, senior program director for NPCA, voiced the national organization’s support for protecting Avi Kwa Ame. After the meeting, local conservation groups like Nevada Conservation League (NCL) applauded the Boulder City Council’s vision in passing the resolution.
“The Boulder City Council’s resolution for protecting Avi Kwa Ame illustrates the positive impacts conserving our lands has on Nevada’s local communities,” said Paul Selberg, NCL’s executive director. “Conserving our lands and waters is not only an important step in fighting climate change but promotes the growing and vital industry of outdoor recreation. Nevadans want bold and ambitious policies – at all levels of government – to conserve our state’s natural heritage, and thank Boulder City for its leadership on this issue.”
In 2020, national and local conservation groups launched a public awareness campaign to garner support for the 380,000-acre area’s national monument designation. The land has come under repeated threats of industrial development. Mojave for Spirit Mountain, Avi Kwa Ame is considered sacred to 12 Native Tribes.
For more information, please visit www.honorspiritmountain.org.
About Honor Avi Kwa Ame
Honor Avi Kwa Ame (pronounced Ah-VEE kwa-ah-may) is an education initiative supporting the proposed Avi Kwa Ame National Monument. The 380,000-acre area in Southern Nevada includes land sacred to 12 Native American tribes, such as the Havasupai, Hualapai, Kumeyaay, Maricopa, Mojave, Pai Pai, Quechan, and Yavapai. Some of the most stunning, biologically diverse, and culturally significant land in the Mojave Desert is a habitat for plants and animals, like the desert tortoise and others, found nowhere else on Earth.
The proposed Avi Kwa Ame National Monument is supported by tribes, conservation and recreation groups, business leaders, and elected officials. Protecting this area preserves Native American ancestral lands, conserves important cultural sites and values, protects wildlife habitat, and benefits present and future generations, along with Nevada’s economy.
To learn more, visit www.honorspiritmountain.org. Follow along on social on Facebook and Instagram.
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