Las Cruces, NM-- Today, community members called on Interior Secretary Zinke to halt his review of New Mexico’s national monuments. Two of New Mexico’s national monuments are part of the review and in danger of being reduced in size or stripped of their designation. The event featured calls-to-action against President Trump and Secretary Zinke’s efforts to reverse public land protections in New Mexico.
In response, Daniel Lorimier from Sierra Club issued the following statement:
“Once again, New Mexicans urged Zinke to keep public lands in public hands-- and to keep them open to the public not closed for fossil fuel extraction. Our state’s national monuments were designated because of their historical, cultural and economic value. Visits doubled to the Organ Mountains site after its designation.
“The Organ Mountains provide a naturally-encapsulated piece of history-- signifying Spanish, Mexican and Native American influence in our region. Trump and team are putting critical parts of American history at risk by disregarding these designations for fossil fuel pursuit.
“The Rio Grande del Norte provides a critical corridor for wildlife moving between two New Mexican mountain ranges. This administration’s efforts to remove critical land and wildlife protections is rooted in short term profit aspirations for a few rather than Americans’ best interests.”
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