TWS urges more progress on America the Beautiful initiative
Pisgah National Forest, NC
Mason Cummings, The Wilderness Society
Public lands serve critical role in addressing climate impacts and slowing nature loss
Washington, D.C. (December 20, 2021) – Today the Biden-Harris administration’s issued its first annual America the Beautiful progress report , which highlights steps taken over the past year to support locally-led and voluntary efforts to conserve, connect, and restore America’s lands and waters.
The Wilderness Society issued the following statement responding to the report:
“We’re pleased to see Biden Administration making progress towards the conservation goals identified in the ‘America the Beautiful’ Initiative: restoring national monuments, protecting Chaco Canyon and the Boundary Waters, expanding wildlife refuges, safeguarding the Tongass National Forest and expanding access to the outdoors for underserved communities. These are vital commitments that address climate change and allow us to achieve 30% of nature protected by 2030,” said Jamie Williams, president of The Wilderness Society.
“With the urgency of the crises we face, the time is now to be courageous and act swiftly. In 2022, the Administration will need to accelerate the pace and scale of their actions, by providing the scientific data and management guidance that will support communities to protect new national monuments and refuges, safeguard forest carbon and old growth, protect critical wildlife migration corridors and speed the creation of urban parks. By collaborating with local partners, the Administration can support healthier communities, increase equitable access to nature and collectively move our country toward a brighter future.”
The Wilderness Society has issued a series of letters to agency heads of the Administration, highlighting how immediate and critical progress could be made to address climate and nature loss on lands managed by:
To speak with staff at The Wilderness Society or for more information on the above letters of recommendation, please contact Kate Mackay (602) 571-2603 or kate_mackay@tws.org
