Protect New Mexico's National Monuments and Our Outdoor Economy

Here in New Mexico, the spectacular Rio Grande del Norte National Monument and Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument are important because they celebrate our shared cultural heritage and protect irreplaceable lands and wildlife.

However, monument status doesn't just protect the land. It also supports local businesses and create jobs.

Tourism and outdoor pursuits including hunting, fishing, camping, mountain biking, skiing, and rafting fueled our economy to a tune of $6.1 billion and 89,000 jobs in 2014 alone. In just the first year after the designation of Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, the number of visitors to the area jumped 40% resulting in a 21% increase in lodgers' tax revenue for the town of Taos, and a rise of more than 8% in gross lodging and dining receipts in Taos County.

But now our monument-driven economy and our lands are at risk. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to undertake a 120-day "review" of certain national monuments, including our Rio Grande del Norte and Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks. This is a clear attack against a core New Mexican value after decades or even centuries of communities working to protect these places.

It couldn't be clearer – monument status does more than protect the land; it also support local jobs and economies.

With the clock ticking on the comment period, as New Mexicans we must make our voices heard now.

Sign the petition today and tell Secretary Zinke to preserve New Mexico's national monuments and our state's economy.
Secretary Zinke,

For New Mexicans, the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument and Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument are critically important economic drivers for local communities.

These lands celebrate our shared cultural heritage and protect irreplaceable lands and wildlife while also creating jobs and drawing visitors from across the globe.

Tourism and outdoor pursuits including hunting, fishing, camping, mountain biking, skiing, and rafting fueled our economy to a tune of $6.1 billion and 89,000 jobs in 2014 alone. In just the first year after the designation of Rio Grande del Norte National Monument, the number of visitors to the area jumped 40% resulting in a 21% increase in lodgers' tax revenue for the town of Taos, and a rise of more than 8% in gross lodging and dining receipts in Taos County.

President Trump’s executive order calling for the review of New Mexico’s Rio Grande del Norte National Monument and Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument is a clear attack against a core New Mexican value after decades or even centuries of communities working to protect these places.

As a New Mexican who values my state’s monuments, I ask that you protect and preserve these lands for both their conservation, cultural, and economic values.

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