In the News

The Desert Sun
October 9, 2006

Land Bill Would Boost Desert Preserves

Environmental groups and land managers will gather at 2:30 p.m. today to learn more about a proposal to upgrade the conservation designations on about 125,000 acres in and around Joshua Tree National Park and the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument.

Rep. Mary Bono, R-Palm Springs, will announce the proposal as part of a bill she intends to submit to congress.

Bono, who the League of Conservation Voters said had an "embarrassingly low" number of votes in favor of environmental legislation last year, is up for re-election next month.

However, the Republican has also received praise from public lands-oriented groups for support of the National Landscape Conservation System.

The event today is at the monument visitor center, 51-500 State Highway 74, Palm Desert.