Conservation Alliance members with Rep. Mary Bono Mack whose proposal would protect 190,000 acres in California.
A group of four Conservation Alliance members traveled to Washington DC to talk to members of Congress about the importance of securing new Wilderness designations in Southern California.
Representatives from The North Face, Eagle Creek, Outdoor Industry Association, and The Conservation Alliance spent two days in meetings with 16 Congressional offices to show support for legislation that would protect 192,000 acres of federal land in Riverside County. The California Desert and Mountain Heritage Act would add nearly 80,000 acres to the Joshua Tree National Park Wilderness, and protect 31 miles of desert rivers as Wild and Scenic.
The Conservation Alliance organized the trip in conjunction with the California Wild Heritage Campaign (www.californiawild.org) a recent Conservation Alliance grant recipient.
“This effort would protect iconic wild places in Southern California,” said John Sterling, Conservation Alliance Executive Director. “These lands are within two hours of 22 million people. Our members recognize the importance of preserving these frontcountry recreational destinations.”
Senator Barbara Boxer and Representative Mary Bono Mack have teamed up to shepherd the legislation through Congress. All of the lands are in Rep. Bono Mack’s Congressional district.
The Conservation Alliance has 27 member companies based in California, most of which have endorsed protection for these Riverside County areas. Trip participants included Conrad Anker (The North Face), Adam Ziegelman (Eagle Creek), Todd Keller (Outdoor Industry Association), and Sterling.