July, 18 2016, 05:00pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Regina Romero, Center for Biological Diversity, (520) 343-4038
Gabrielle Villarreal, Latinos for Parks, (520) 647-4013
July 20 Hike Celebrates Latino Conservation Week in Tucson
Public Event Links Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument to History, Culture at “A” Mountain
TUCSON, Ariz.
The heat's not stopping Arizonans from hiking in 100+ degrees Fahrenheit to support efforts to create the Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument during the 100-year anniversary of both the National Park Service and the "A" on Sentinel Peak, one of Tucson's most cherished urban natural areas.
| What: | Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument Hike at "A" Mountain |
| When: | Wednesday, July 20, 5:30 p.m. Meet at Mercado San Agustin, 100 S. Avenida Del Convento -- Seis Mexican Restaurant. At 6:30, join our 3.8-mile round-trip hike up from the Mercado to Sentinel Peak "A" Mountain. |
Background
An effort led by Congressman Raul M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) calls on President Obama to use his authority under the Antiquities Act to permanently protect public land surrounding the Grand Canyon from uranium mining. Momentum is building just two weeks after the delivery of more than 550,000 petition signatures and comments in support of the monument designation, including more than 20 tribal nations and tens of thousands of businesses, outdoor recreation and conservation groups, and national and local elected leaders.
Advocates from the Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of "A" Mountain, Latino Outdoors and Latinos for Parks have been working to recruit more advocates for the measure in Arizona. Recent polling shows that 86 percent of Latinos across Arizona and 4 out of 5 Arizonans favor a national monument designation.
"We are excited to join efforts to support increased protection for our public lands, rich with outdoor experiences and opportunities for all our communities," said Jose Gonzalez, founder of Latino Outdoors. "We want to increase access for all and want to ensure the Latino voice is present in this effort."
Latino Conservation Week: Disfrutando y Conservando Nuestra Tierra was launched by the Hispanic Access Foundation and is supported by many organizations working to get Latinos into the outdoors and participating in activities to protect natural resources.
"It's our moral responsibility to care for our land, water and wildlife, with a commitment to collaboration and inclusivity," said Regina Romero, director of Latino engagement at the Center for Biological Diversity.
#GrandCanyonHeritage #Latinos4Conservation #MonumentsforAll
At the Center for Biological Diversity, we believe that the welfare of human beings is deeply linked to nature — to the existence in our world of a vast diversity of wild animals and plants. Because diversity has intrinsic value, and because its loss impoverishes society, we work to secure a future for all species, great and small, hovering on the brink of extinction. We do so through science, law and creative media, with a focus on protecting the lands, waters and climate that species need to survive.
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