Contact: Mark Allison, mark@nmwild.org, 505-239-0906
Mark Allison, Executive Director of New Mexico Wild, has issued the following statement on the first anniversary of the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) 10-mile administrative withdrawal of federal lands from future mineral development in Chaco Canyon for 20 years:
“Today marks a significant milestone as we celebrate the first anniversary of Secretary Haaland’s courageous decision to enact the administrative mineral withdrawal for the Greater Chaco Landscape. This action demonstrated a profound respect for the living cultural landscape that holds immeasurable significance to the Puebloan and Diné people.
Over the past year, we have witnessed the positive impact of this withdrawal. The pristine skies, invaluable paleontological resources, untamed wilderness, and stunning natural beauty of Greater Chaco have been granted a reprieve from the threats posed by mineral extraction. However, the long-term preservation of Greater Chaco depends on permanent congressional action.
New Mexico Wild stands united with Pueblo leadership in calling upon Congress to build upon the progress made by Secretary Haaland. We urge our elected officials to seize this moment and pass legislation that will forever safeguard the Greater Chaco Landscape, ensuring that its cultural heritage and ecological importance are protected for generations to come.”
Learn more about our work to protect Chaco Canyon here.
