Nevada Outdoor Business Coalition Reacts to News of Impending Avi Kwa Ame Monument Designation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Zoë Houghton, zoe@nvobc.org

NEVADA – On Thursday, news broke of President Joe Biden’s plans to sign a proclamation designating the territory of Avi Kwa Ame in Southern Nevada as a new national monument, answering the call from Tribal leaders, conservationists, outdoor recreationalists, and local monument supporters to protect the landscape.

In response, the Nevada Outdoor Business Coalition (NVOBC) issued the following statement: 

“We’re looking forward to President Biden designating Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in the state of Nevada. As a coalition of entrepreneurs, business owners and leaders of the outdoor recreation industry in Nevada, we have been proud to support the grassroots campaign to designate Avi Kwa Ame as a National Monument. Over 100 Nevada businesses signed our letter supporting the designation, and we highly anticipate seeing this National Monument go from mere proposal to reality. 

The protection of Avi Kwa Ame (or Spirit Mountain) ensures that nearly 450,000 acres of public land will provide continued access for endless recreational opportunities, encourage tourism, increase patronage at local businesses, and further promote Nevada as a desirable place to work and play. This designation would not only safeguard our invaluable public lands, but also benefit Nevada’s growing outdoor industry, which supports 49,000 jobs and generates $3.9 billion for the state in annual economic activity. We eagerly await further news about this designation and the administration’s plans for protecting it.” 

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About Nevada Outdoor Business Coalition (NVOBC)

The NVOBC is the business voice of the outdoor industry in Nevada, with the goal of promoting and supporting policies and regulations that will contribute to building a more robust outdoor industry in the Silver State. Our Coalition includes a variety of outdoor businesses, from well-known retailers such as Patagonia and REI to restaurants that feed hungry outdoor enthusiasts after enjoying the state’s outdoors. Learn more at nvobc.org.

About Avi Kwa Ame (Pronunciation: Ah-VEE kwa-meh): Sacred to 12 tribes, the proposed Avi Kwa Ame National Monument is at the center of Yuman creation stories and spiritual ideology and deserves permanent protection. Located between the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and the Nevada/California border, Avi Kwa Ame, the Mojave name for Spirit Mountain, could be Nevada’s 4th national monument.  Covering nearly 450,000 acres in southwestern Nevada, it is rich in both history and beauty. The proposed national monument includes petroglyphs; historic mining- and pioneer-era artifacts; rare and threatened wildlife such as the Mojave Desert tortoise and desert bighorn sheep.

To learn more, visit www.honoravikwaame.org. Follow along on social media on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter