Mission

In February of 2024, our partner, the Fort Yuma Quechan Indian Tribe, called on President Biden to protect their ancestral homelands in California through a national monument designation. In anticipation of this announcement, we flew the 390,000-acre proposed Kw'tsán National Monument with Tribal leaders and Native American Conservancy.

This stunning area, if protected, will create large swaths of continuous safeguarded habitat through Avi Kwa Ame, Avi Kwa Lal, Palo Verde Peak, and the proposed Chuckwalla National Monument. The designation would preserve habitat and wildlife corridors for diverse species many of which are endangered, including the Desert Tortoise, Woodhouse's Toad, roadrunner, black-tailed jackrabbit, kit grebe chuckwalla, coyote, and birds who utilize the critical bird migration flyway located on the eastern side of the proposed monument. This conservation initiative will protect critical wildlands and the Quechan people’s sovereign rights and cultural practices from industrial threats like mining.

Thank you to the Quechan Tribe for working to protect this sacred landscape, its wildlife and water. EcoFlight will continue to fly in support of Kw'Tsan National Monument's designation and the preservation of California's public lands.