This article provides two different perspectives on the designation of Stonewall National Monument. which was proclaimed by President Obama in 2016. First, former National Park Service (NPS) Director Jonathan Jarvis shares his experiences leading up to and beyond the designation. In the second section, Megan Springate places Stonewall into the larger context of the NPS Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) heritage initiative and the preparation of LGBTQ America, the LGBTQ+ theme study, which is a document commissioned by the National Park Foundation for the National Park Service.

Protected and conserved areas must play a key role in managing the interrelated global crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. We are well past understanding the problem and the need for dramatic action is clear. The draft Global Biodiversity Framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity calls for at least 30% of the land and sea to be conserved in systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures by 2030. This is an enormous challenge for the world and for North America. Yet the governments of Canada, the United States, and Mexico, as well as those of 60 other countries, have committed to achieving this conservation target. The “at least 30%” figure is meant to encourage ambition and must be implemented using a range of quality considerations for protected and conserved areas. This article examines what must be considered in achieving this critical target by 2030.