Sierra National Monument

Our Mission: Parks for People and Wildlife 

We strive to bring nature to people by extending nature’s reach. Our goal is to ensure that forests, rivers, deserts and surrounding areas are cared for in the long term and interconnected by migratory corridors so that wildlife and human life can thrive.

Our Immediate Goal: A Monument Celebrating the American West

With its rich biodiversity, epic granite monoliths and abundant forests, the Sierra Nevada is a biological wonder and a worldwide treasure. At the heart of its glorious wilderness and at the geographic center of the Golden State is the proposed Sierra National Monument. The monument will stretch from the southern boundary of Yosemite National Park down to the San Joaquin River Gorge and beyond to protect more than 500,000 acres and four major habitat zones. It will preserve giant sequoias and safeguard at least two pristine Sierra Nevada watersheds: the South Fork of the Merced and the San Joaquin River—vital sources of water for fish, wildlife, outdoor enthusiasts and farmers.

Threats & Solutions: Why a National Monument?   

The area is susceptible to industrial uses that harm the habitat, the watershed and the long-term economic health of local communities. A national monument designation would forever protect a portion of our shared public lands from mining and commercial logging, while allowing for ecological recovery. It would also provide an economic boost to local towns and encourage physical activity in a high-quality natural setting. Recreation is a primary economic driver in California and the nation, and it's an important force in the local community, both for driving local businesses and for keeping people happy, healthy and outside. From the San Joaquin River to Granite Creek, the area abounds with recreational opportunities. Visitors can backpack, climb, kayak, bicycle, camp, day-hike or just relax in a wide variety of settings. A monument is a positive path forward.

Urgency: An American Legacy Renewed

The challenge is great, but the timing is right. On June 30, 1864, amid the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant Act, protecting Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. This was California’s first state park, and it was the first time in American history that a large tract of land was set aside for people. Decades later, John Muir drew a larger circle on the map and helped create the Yosemite we know today. It’s been 150 years, since America heralded the creation of its first park in Yosemite, and the time has come to renew the great American conservation legacy by creating a larger reserve of forests for people and wildlife for all time.

Great thoughts speak only to the thoughtful mind, but great actions speak to all mankind.—Theodore Roosevelt

God never made an ugly landscape. All that the sun shines on is beautiful, so long as it is wild.—John Muir