Advocacy Fight for Greater Chaco Landscape Underway

New Mexico – A struggle is unfolding over the fate of the Greater Chaco Landscape, a region steeped in cultural significance and ecological importance. At the center of this unfolding narrative is the Greater Chaco Coalition, a group vehemently advocating for the protection of this sacred landscape. Their current focus is a call to action directed at Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, urging her to fulfill her commitment to safeguard the entirety of Greater Chaco and to advance the Honoring Chaco Initiative.

The Coalition acknowledges and appreciates Secretary Haaland’s efforts so far, particularly in the realm of Chaco’s conservation. Their plea is an extension of gratitude coupled with a resolute push for continued and expanded action. This drive stems from a crucial development in June, when the Department of the Interior endorsed a 20-year mineral withdrawal.

This pivotal decision, which bans new mineral leasing on unleased federal lands within a 10-mile radius of the Chaco Culture National Historical Park, was a significant stride towards conservation, announced by President Biden and Secretary Haaland at the 2021 Tribal Nations Summit.

This mineral withdrawal is but one facet of the Honoring Chaco Initiative, a comprehensive plan to foster collaboration among federal agencies, Tribes, Indigenous communities, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders. Its aim is to implement landscape-level management across the Greater Chaco Landscape, addressing the cumulative environmental and social injustices that have marred the region.

This is to be achieved through a cultural landscape management framework. Despite initial meetings and planning sessions, the momentum of this initiative has waned, leading to the current call for reinvigoration and progress.

The Greater Chaco Landscape has long been burdened by the impacts of nearly 40,000 oil and gas wells, leaving a legacy of pollution and environmental degradation. The region faces ongoing issues with air and water quality, and despite the 20-year mineral withdrawal, recent estimates suggest that oil and gas drilling and production in the area will be minimally affected. Alarmingly, since the announcement of the Honoring Chaco initiative, incidents involving toxic waste spills from oil and gas production have seen a dramatic increase in the area.

Responding to these challenges, earlier this year, the Greater Chaco Coalition presented the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Land Management with a comprehensive road map. This blueprint is designed to ensure the Honoring Chaco Initiative’s impacts are enduring and effective. It’s a manifestation of the collective voice of over two million people who, since 2014, have implored federal agencies to address the detrimental impacts of oil and gas activities in the Greater Chaco region.

Their demands are clear: meaningful tribal and community consultation at every decision-making stage, a thorough consideration and resolution of the cumulative impacts of oil and gas extraction, and a steadfast commitment to advancing environmental and economic justice.

At the heart of the advocacy lies a call for a fundamental shift in how public lands are managed in the region. The goal is to establish a model that prioritizes economic and environmental justice and sustainability for the communities most affected by these decisions. This entails a recommitment to the Honoring Chaco Initiative, a chance to set a new precedent for how we interact with and manage our natural and cultural landscapes.

The Greater Chaco Coalition, along with Secretary Haaland, who is of Laguna Pueblo descent, faces a critical juncture. The Honoring Chaco Initiative, launched in response to appeals from Tribes, Pueblos, and environmentalists, offers a path to rectify the long-standing mismanagement of the region. This initiative, already underway with the mineral withdrawal around Chaco Culture National Park, seeks to protect this area from future leasing and mining claims for the next two decades. However, the real test lies in advancing to the second phase of the initiative.

The historical significance of the Greater Chaco Landscape cannot be overstated. For over two millennia, Pueblo and Hopi peoples have made this land the center of their ceremonies, trade, and political activities. Chaco Canyon, in particular, stands as a testament to these ancient and ongoing cultural practices.

Yet, as former Navajo Nation Council Delegate Daniel Tso emphasizes, the region has been treated as a “sacrifice zone” for far too long, with new oil and gas activities continually approved despite the evident need for protection.

Now, with the roadmap provided by the Coalition and the unwavering support of communities and advocates, the call is clear: it is time for Secretary Haaland and the involved agencies to step into the next phase of the Honoring Chaco Initiative. The future of the Greater Chaco Landscape, a treasure of cultural and environmental significance, hangs in the balance, awaiting the decisive action that could chart a new course for its preservation and reverence.