The California desert is one of the most unique and pristine places in the country. Both Californians and visitors from around the world have long been drawn to its dark night skies, stark beauty, painted mountains, iconic Route 66, fascinating wildlife, and Native American petroglyphs. Yet, the desert we love is being threatened by two of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the nation: Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

Little more than 100 years ago, all of humanity could look up and see a spectacular starry night sky. Now, millions of children across the globe will never experience the Milky Way where they live. The increased and widespread use of artificial light at night is not only impairing our view of the universe, it is adversely affecting the environment, wildlife, and contributing to climate change. These effects are most acutely felt in sensitive places like the California desert.

That is why President Obama’s recent historic move designating the Mojave Trails, Sand to Snow, and Castle Mountains National Monuments is so vital to the long-term preservation of these dark nighttime refuges. Thanks to Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s years of leadership in California desert conservation, these public lands are now protected in a way that will keep their nighttime environments dark and their night skies filled with thousands of shimmering stars for the delight of future generations. A diverse coalition of community leaders, local organizations and land users has signaled its strong support for this move.

Not only will these new National Monuments protect important habitats, they will also contribute significantly to the region’s tourism economy. Public lands in the California desert already add important value to the area economy. Mojave National Preserve, Joshua Tree National Park, and Death Valley National Park — an International Dark Sky Park — are major economic drivers in the inland southern California area. Visitors to these parks pumped $194 million into the region’s economy in 2014 and support over 2,700 jobs annually.

Adding the new National Monuments to the southern California portfolio of protected public lands will only increase the region’s popularity. Furthermore, the allure of their dark skies and exceptional night sky viewing conditions brings more opportunities for astro-tourism, a rapidly-growing industry. The commitment America makes by elevating the status of these lands to National Monuments ensures that the public will be able to continue to access them and demonstrates the notion that natural conservation and economic activity need not be mutually exclusive. And it all comes at no disadvantage to mining and other development in the California desert.

Thanks to President Obama and Sen. Feinstein, Californians and visitors alike will continue to enjoy the exceptional beauty of the California desert and its stunning night skies. We applaud this action as a major step forward in desert conservation.

J. Scott Feierabend is executive director of the International Dark-Sky Association.