The Wilderness Society mourns the passing of Congressman Raúl Grijalva

Today, The Wilderness Society issued statements responding to the announced passing of United States Congressman Raúl Grijalva (AZ), a dedicated public servant and longtime advocate of protecting public lands and waters.  

President Tracy Stone-Manning said: 

“We are heartbroken by the passing of Congressman Raúl Grijalva, a true champion in the fight for our public lands, waters and communities. Throughout his career, Congressman Grijalva was a tireless leader in conservation, environmental justice and Indigenous rights, demonstrating that we can’t champion nature without championing people. His leadership on the House Natural Resources Committee not only leaves a legacy in the form of protected wild places, but reshaped the way we protect and steward our nation’s most cherished landscapes, ensuring they remain accessible for future generations. 

We at The Wilderness Society mourn his passing and extend our deepest condolences to his family, colleagues and all those whose lives he touched. His legacy will endure in the countless advocates he inspired and in the wild places he fought so hard to protect, including his decades of effort to protect the stunning lands around the Grand Canyon, now secured in the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. Today, we honor his memory and reaffirm our commitment to carrying forward his vision for a just and sustainable future.” 

Arizona State Director Mike Quigley said: 

“Congressman Grijalva has been a public lands defender since his early days as a Pima County Supervisor and up until his very last. He innately understood that conservation is about more than protecting places and wildlife—it’s also about people and community. Throughout his career, he embodied integrity for the causes he championed and the constituents he represented. 

In Arizona, Mr. Grijalva was always generous with his time—supporting local conservation groups, participating in local discussions, and working to unite different groups working on different issues for a more vibrant and enjoyable community. His unwavering commitment to our air, land and water has undoubtedly left a lasting impact on the state and across the country.” 

Congressman Grijalva was a longtime leader of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources, where he played a pivotal role in overseeing the stewardship of our nation’s public lands and shaping federal conservation and species protection policies. His tireless advocacy led to landmark achievements, including the creation of the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument in 2023, further safeguarding the Grand Canyon and its watershed for future generations. 

As a principal architect of the bipartisan Dingell Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act, he helped secure permanent protections for more than 2 million acres of public lands and waters—including nearly 1.3 million acres of new wilderness—and ensured the permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, one of the nation’s most crucial conservation programs. 

A steadfast champion of Native American and Indigenous rights, Congressman Grijalva fought to strengthen tribal engagement in public lands decision-making and worked to modernize outdated mining and drilling laws, striving for justice for communities affected by harmful resource extraction on federal lands. His unwavering dedication to equity, conservation and responsible stewardship has left an enduring legacy that will continue to inspire generations to come. 

In recognition of his outsized impact on conservation, The Wilderness Society awarded Congressman Grijalva its prestigious Ansel Adams Award for public lands stewardship in 2022, the organization’s highest honor bestowed on a public servant.  

Upon receiving the Ansel Adams Award in 2022, Congressman Grijalva said, “We are judged on what we choose to pass on. And today, we have an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to preserve these lands for the future and future generations. Now during a time of national disillusionment, it is perhaps more important than ever that we work together to find common ground so our children and grandchildren can cherish our greatest national treasures.” 

For more information, contact newsmedia@tws.org.