FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2021
DENVER—The Commerce Department announced today it will begin taking steps to designate a new protected area off the northern California coast, the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. The proposed sanctuary is an Indigenous-led effort to protect coastal ecosystems and honor thousands of years of heritage of the Chumash Tribes.
The designation, if finalized, would permanently remove the threat of offshore oil drilling and connect existing marine sanctuaries from the Channel Islands to Monterey Bay.
The Center for Western Priorities released the following statement from Executive Director Jennifer Rokala:
“Designating a Chumash Heritage marine sanctuary would protect a critical marine ecosystem and honor an area that has sustained Indigenous Americans for thousands of years. It would also be a major step toward protecting 30 percent of America’s lands and waters by 2030.
“Reaching 30×30 will take every tool at the president’s disposal, and require coordination across multiple agencies, from Commerce to Agriculture to Interior and even the Defense Department. With strong leadership from the White House, America can show the world how to address the intertwined climate and biodiversity crises, while honoring Indigenous cultures and strengthening our economy.”
Learn more
- 30×30 Fact vs. Fiction: Pulling back the curtain on misinformation [Westwise]
- The science behind 30×30 [Center for Western Priorities]
- Whiteboard: Dr. Enric Sala and Sen. Tom Udall on why America must protect 30×30 [YouTube]
- Fact sheet: 30×30 by the numbers [Center for Western Priorities]