Create the Range of Light National Monument 

Deanna Wulff, executive director of Unite the Parks, is leading the effort to protect the 1.4 million acres of federal land between Yosemite and Sequoia-Kings Canyon national parks as the Range of Light National Monument. This area between the parks and in the center of the longest interconnected wilderness in the contiguous 48 states presents a rare opportunity to create an integrated ecosystem in one the most biodiverse places in the world.

From the blue oak woodlands to the granite spires of the high alpine, the beauty and biodiversity of the Sierra Nevada is nothing short of remarkable. While the Sierra Nevada takes up only 20% of California’s land mass, half of its native plant species live there and more than 400 of its species are found nowhere else on earth, including the infamous giant sequoia and gray wolf. The Range of Light National Monument is home to 24 species listed as endangered or threatened.

Adding 1.4 million acres to America’s conserved lands would serve wildlife and significantly advance the Biden administration goal of protecting 30% of the nation’s lands by 2030. This monument would preserve and expand forests and soils sequestering carbon and create a wildlife corridor enabling plants and animals to adapt to climate change. Protected landscapes are also the most fire-resilient, and local communities will benefit from the fire safety that parks and monuments provide.

Finally, the new national monument would also increase local employment by nearly 2,900 jobs—providing 40 new jobs for every job displaced. This would catalyze tourism, restoration and recreation while building a future for the region that serves the economy and the environment.

Unite the Parks is encouraging the Biden administration to use the Antiquities Act to create the Range of Light National Monument for people and wildlife for all time. It’s a legacy that will last for generations to come.

Sayes https://fresnoalliance.com/28375-2/#:~:text=Deanna%20Wulff%2C%20executive%20director%20of,Range%20of%20Light%20National%20Monument.

Visit https://www.unitetheparks.org/ for more info on their reasoning for their proposal

The proposed "Range of Light National Monument" in California could negatively impact local economies by restricting activities like logging, hunting, cattle grazing, and off-road vehicle use, potentially limiting access to recreational areas like Shaver Lake, Huntington Lake, Big Creek, Bass Lake, North Fork, Wishon Revisor, Courtright Revisor, and impacting livelihoods that depend on these activities in the surrounding communities of Fresno, Madera, and Mariposa counties; critics also argue it could significantly reduce public access to large swaths of land currently used for recreation within the Sierra National Forest. 

Key points about the potential negative effects:

• Reduced recreational access:

  Restrictions on vehicle access, including off-roading, could limit recreational activities like hiking, camping, and fishing in the area. 

• Economic impact on local businesses:

  Businesses that rely on tourism related to outdoor activities, such as hunting, fishing, and off-roading, could see a decline in revenue. 

• Disruption to land management practices:

  Restrictions on logging and timber harvesting could impact forest management practices and potentially lead to increased wildfire risk. 

• Community concerns:

  Residents in nearby towns like Shaver Lake, Bass Lake, North Fork, express concerns about the potential negative impact on their lifestyle and property values due to limitations on land use