STATEMENT Historic confirmation of Representative Deb Haaland as Interior Secretary

For immediate release
Contact: Jessica Dacey, Director of Communications
Phone: (760) 851 8394
Email: jessica@mdlt.org
March 15, 2021

Historic confirmation of Representative Deb Haaland as Interior Secretary

The Mojave Desert Land Trust applauds the Senate’s confirmation of Representative Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) as Secretary of Interior and the first Native American Cabinet Secretary.

“Today is a historic and momentous day with the nation’s first Native American stepping into the leadership role at the Department of Interior. Secretary Haaland has illustrated her deep commitment to public land stewardship and conservation. She has proven her ability to lead the department responsible for this nation’s most prized lands, having served as Vice Chair for the House Natural Resources Committee and Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands. In addition, Secretary Haaland has fought passionately for the protection of the Bears Ears National Monument and been a strong supporter of the national primary conservation fund, the Land and Water Conservation Fund.” – Geary Hund, Executive Director, Mojave Desert Land Trust

“As a major landowner in the California desert, the Mojave Desert Land Trust works closely with federal agencies, including the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management, and we look forward to working together to preserve our public lands and greater advocacy for the protection of ancestral lands.”

The Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the mission to protect and care for lands with natural, scenic, and cultural value within the Mojave Desert. Since its founding in 2006 the land trust has conserved 90,000 acres, donating more tracts of land to the National Park Service in the last decade than any other organization. In addition to acquiring land, the land trust established a seed bank to ensure the preservation of native species. MDLT operates an onsite nursery at its Joshua Tree headquarters which propagates native species for ecosystem restoration. MDLT educates and advocates for the conservation of the desert, involving hundreds of volunteers in our work. For more information, visit mdlt.org.