JAKARTA - United States President Joe Biden last month inaugurated two new national monuments in Nevada and Texas, launching an effort to consider expanding protection for all waters around remote Pacific islands southwest of Hawaii.
The measures, announced at a high-level meeting at the White House on conservation, aim to realize President Biden's goal of preserving at least 30 percent of federal land and waters by 2030.
"We protect our national heart and soul of pride," President Biden said.
The two national monuments will preserve 514,000 acres (208,008 hectares) of public land. The two monuments include Avi Kwa Ame, Mojave's name for Mount Roh, in southern Nevada.
This place is sacred to tribes including Paiute and Chemeshuevi, and provides habitat for species such as desert bighorn sheep, desert turtles, and Joshua tree forests.
Another new national monument is Castner Range in El Paso, Texas. This place is a former US Army training and testing site and has more than 40 archaeological sites known for the remains of pottery, petroglf and residential buildings.
This location is rich in desert species. including Mexican poppies that bloom in spring and provide habitat for wildlife such as gold eagles, Texas horned lizards, and western dug owls.
This determination will provide opportunities for people who historically lack access to public land to enjoy nature and explore, according to a White House statement.
In addition, President Biden directed Trade Minister Gina Raimondo to consider initiating the determination of a new marine reserve for all US waters around the Pacific Remote Islands.
The determination will expand the existing Pacific Remote Islands National Marine Monument founded by President George W. Bush in 2009 and expanded by President Barack Obama in 2014.
President Biden also issued directives to begin the process of considering changing the names of the monuments and islands, to honor the original heritage of the area and recognize the indigenous Hawaiians who received US territorial claims to the islands.
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