Latinos in Riverside and San Bernardino counties are thrilled that President Obama recently designated our nation’s three newest national monuments – Sand to Snow, Mojave Trails, and Castle Mountains – in the California desert.

One hundred years ago, President Woodrow Wilson signed the bill establishing the National Park Service. From day one, the goal was "to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and wildlife therein, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations."

I recently received the following Twitter message, “why does it matter the race of the people protecting our desert? I am so tired of bias.” The Tweet was in response to photos we posted of a Latino faith-leader at the White House for an event to mark the designation of new national monuments in California.

Arizona Democratic Reps. Raul Grijalva and Ruben Gallego joined other lawmakers and civil rights groups Thursday urging President Barack Obama to implement more inclusive policies on the nation’s public lands.

On Thursday a coalition of civil society organizations have urged President Barack Obama to ensure greater participation and involvement of Hispanics, Asians, and African Americans citizens in national parks and public lands of the United States.

Today, more than 20 Latino faith leaders joined the public celebration of the new California Desert National Monuments demonstrating their intention to serve as stewards and connect the greater Latino community with these special places. The designation of the Mojave Trails, Sand to Snow and Castle Mountains National Monuments marked the outcome of a multi-year effort to permanently protect these public lands of the California Desert for present and future generations.

The added protected lands, Jewell said, make it possible to hike from the Angeles National Forest east of Los Angeles to the San Bernardino National Forest to the newly created Sand to Snow National Monument, to Joshua Tree National Park, to the newly created Mojave Trails National Monument, to the Castle Mountains National Monument and to the Nevada border.

As America’s National Park Service celebrates its centennial this summer, we have a responsibility to create a vision for the next century that focuses on the importance of public lands for all Americans.