Arizona’s Chiricahua becomes 64th US national park

A little-known landscape characterised by its towering rock spires has become the 64th US national park. A 12,000-acre maze of rugged rock formations, Arizona’s Chiricahua landscape is a

place where desert, grassland and forest ecosystems meet, supporting a remarkable array of biodiversity. On Tuesday, it became a national park.

“Chiricahua’s towering rock spires, rich Apache heritage and remarkable biodiversity make it one of America’s most extraordinary landscapes,” said secretary of the interior Doug Burgum. “This new designation will shine a national spotlight on one of Arizona’s hidden gems.”

The designation comes at a difficult time for US national parks. Since coming to power, the Trump administration has slashed the National Park Service’s budget and cut around 25% of its workforce.