These lands are more than just scenic destinations—they are sacred, historically rich and ecologically vital spaces that help define who we are as Californians. Today, these treasures face unprecedented threats from federal rollbacks and budget cuts, despite strong public opposition.
California, with its diverse landscapes and rich cultural heritage, is one of the states that would be most impacted by the rollback of national monuments. We are home to some of the most iconic national monuments, such as the Berryessa Snow Mountain, the San Gabriel Mountains and the newly designated Chuckwalla National Monument. Located in the Mojave and Sonoran deserts, Chuckwalla protects more than 624,000 acres of critical habitat and sacred cultural sites, but the designation may be rescinded. Its creation was the result of years of tireless advocacy by Latino, Indigenous and faith communities who understand the power of protecting public lands, not just for the environment, but for people, too. I advocated by leading several events at my church, organizing hikes and collecting signatures; my heart was filled with gratitude and joy when I read the news of its designation, only to be broken a few weeks later upon learning that its protection could be removed.
All of this progress—including California’s 20 national monuments, and more than 130 national monuments overall—are at risk. President Trump signed Executive Order 14154, which declares that it is United States policy “to encourage energy exploration and production on federal lands.” This was followed by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s Secretarial Order 3418, which revokes critical conservation protections and opens the door to rollbacks; and the recently approved “Big Beautiful Bill,” which further weakens national-monument protections and fast-tracks fossil-fuel energy production on public lands.
For Latinos, national monuments hold a special significance; they represent spaces where ancestral practices, traditions and spiritual connections to the land are preserved. For people of faith like me, they represent God’s creation and a gift that reminds us of his glory. As stated in Psalm 24:1, “The Earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it,” and it is something that must be safeguarded and well-managed.
Across the country, communities of color are three times more likely than white communities to live in nature-deprived places; two-thirds of Latinos live in nature-deprived areas, compared to just 23% of whites. National monuments help close this gap by creating accessible, safe and welcoming green spaces. According to the recent Conservation in the West Poll, 91% of Latino voters support keeping existing national monuments in place; 77% prefer that Congress prioritize air quality, clean water and wildlife habitat over fossil-fuel extraction; and 78% want more emphasis on conserving wildlife than on oil and gas production. Rolling back protections won’t just harm the environment—it will widen the “nature gap” that disproportionately affects Latino communities.
Latinos constitute approximately 39.1% of California’s population and are the fastest growing demographic, yet Latinos hold only 18.4% of executive roles within the state government—they are still vastly underrepresented in the policymaking process. Fortunately, they are taking power and engaging in advocacy. They are organizing community events, speaking at public hearings, and leading conservation campaigns that reflect our values and vision for the future, and further empowering themselves to successfully advocate by participating in initiatives like Latino Conservation Week.
They’re showing what it means to be caretakers of creation. For many Latinos, a connection to the land is not just about preserving natural beauty—it’s about honoring God’s creations and ensuring that future generations can connect with the Earth in the same way. As stewards of our land, we have a responsibility to protect these spaces, not only for ourselves, but for the countless species, cultures and communities that depend on them. Faith communities have long been advocates of the protection of national monuments.
The fight to protect national monuments from rollbacks is not easy, but it is necessary. Let’s raise our voices, take action, and continue fighting to protect the places that are dear to us. If we stand together, we can create the change we want to see, not just for ourselves—but for future generations. The lands we protect today will be the legacy we leave behind.