Hope, Culture, & Community: El Paso’s Bold FIGHT for a National Monument
In a major conservation victory, the Biden Administration recently designated Castner Range as a national monument, helping redefine what the 21st century of conservation could and should look like. One that is rooted in tradition, place, and culture. This followed Texas Representative Veronica Escobar’s introduction of the Castner Range Monument Act in April 2021 and a March 2022 visit from US Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, who hiked along Castner Range and spoke with local conservationists about federal protection. Groups like Nuestra Tierra are now celebrating—local conservationists have been pushing for Castner’s protection for more than half a century—but still have much to do to help the community lead their conservation vision forward.
