President Joe Biden on Tuesday unveiled two massive new national monuments in the California desert and Far North, protecting land considered sacred by tribes, bolstering his conservation legacy just days before leaving office.

Biden signs proclamation establishing 624,000-acre Chuckwala National Monument south of Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California, and Settlement title Highlands National Monument spans more than 224,000 acres of old-growth forest and unique geological features near the Oregon border.

"Our natural wonders are the heart and soul of our country," Biden said in remarks at the White House. "They bring us together. They inspire us."

Biden said he and his wife, Jill, have made it an annual tradition to take their children and grandchildren to visit national parks and monuments.

He said he wanted them to "see, touch, smell, taste and see" what was preserved, thinking of former President Theodore Roosevelt and others who moved to preserve the land.

"Imagine if they didn't take action," he said.

Supporters say the new monument will protect vast populations of vulnerable wildlife and culturally important sites while avoiding development and resource extraction — including clean energy. Native American tribes have led the push to protect the land.

The signing comes a week after the president canceled a designated trip to the picturesque canyon of Chuckwala as high winds fanned wildfires in Los Angeles County.

Biden said he was working closely with California Governor Gavin Newsom and the state's representatives "to ensure California has every possible resource to fight the fires and help survivors."

He added that the disaster was a reminder that "this is not a blue state versus red state issue or a conservative versus liberal issue. This is about the United States of America."

The new monument protects a total of 848,000 acres of land in California. Under new announcement, Biden will designate 10 national monuments Several others were expanded or modified, including two in the Golden State, using executive powers under the Antiquities Act.

He will also protect more lands and waters than any president in history, according to the White House. Last week, Biden took action Protect the East and West Coasts and Alaska's Northern Bering Sea from offshore oil and gas drilling.

Supporters of new monument Pressured Biden Create them ahead of Trump's inauguration on Monday. Trump scaled back monuments in the West during first term, far-right ranks call for Repeal the Antiquities ActA 1906 law that allows the president to designate national monuments.

Biden participated in Tuesday's signing event with Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the first Native American to serve as Cabinet secretary.

She said that when she and the president took office, they “fundamentally understood that tribes must be at the forefront of our efforts to protect the lands and waters on which we depend.

“I’m grateful that he listened to tribes and local communities across the country and committed that our government will protect places that are critical to our identity and our shared experiences,” she said of Biden.

Opponents of the latest monuments, including small-scale miners, off-road enthusiasts and some local representatives, worry the designations will stifle recreation as well as economic and energy opportunities. Critics believe Biden has abused his executive power and want the incoming administration to reverse the president's actions.

Times staff writer Alex Wigglesworth contributed to this report.