| Dear Katy, California's deserts include some of the most ecologically intact landscapes we have left in the United States, with dozens of threatened and rare species.1 Just 18 months ago, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) finalized a plan to protect millions of acres of this irreplaceable ecosystem. Now the Trump administration wants to reverse the plan, opening ecologically-sensitive public lands to energy development, mining and off-road vehicles. With a massive grassroots backlash, we can make BLM officials think twice about scrapping this popular and scientifically sound plan. Tell the Trump regime: Don't open protected areas of California's deserts to energy development. Click here to sign the petition. The Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan protects more than 22 million acres of private and public land in California's Mojave and Sonoran Deserts from industrial development.2 The plan nearly doubled the amount of protected land in these deserts, while setting aside areas for renewable energy development in locations where it would be least harmful to wildlife and the environment.3 Hundreds of scientists, conservationists, recreational users and solar developers gave input over years to develop the plan, which protects 37 unique species, including the iconic desert tortoise and desert bighorn sheep.4 Now Trump's BLM wants to dismantle the plan, claiming that California won't be able to meet its renewable energy goals unless more of these deserts are opened to energy development. But California's own renewable energy officials have disputed that.5 What's really happening is that the Trump administration is recklessly ignoring a careful process and handing off our public lands to the higher bidder. We need a rapid transition to renewable energy to fight climate change, but we can get there without destroying ecologically sensitive areas. Tell the Trump regime: Don't open protected areas of California's deserts to energy development. Click the link below to sign the petition: https://act.credoaction.com/sign/save-the-desert?t=7&akid=27250%2E12967895%2EkhNKuY Thanks for fighting back, Brandy Doyle, Campaign Manager
CREDO Action from Working Assets Add your name: References: - Center for Biological Diversity, "Imperiled plants, animals and landscapes in the DRECP planning area," accessed Feb. 5, 2018.
- Carolyn Lochhead, "Trump administration signals move against California desert protection plan," San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 1, 2018.
- Emily Guerin, "Trump Administration Takes Aim at California Desert Protections," KQED, Feb. 1, 2018.
- Center for Biological Diversity, "Imperiled plants, animals and landscapes in the DRECP planning area."
- Lochhead, "Trump administration signals move against California desert protection plan."
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