In their quest for new species, our seed bank team has been heading higher into desert mountain ranges in the Mojave where they’ve encountered limestone-dominated environments and the unusual plants that inhabit them. Seed Bank Technician Kyra Santa Cruz shares some highlights in her recent notes from the field. 

Morelia Ruby Gamino has been enthralled by sharks ever since watching the horror sci-fi “Deep Blue Sea”. When she learned that many species of sharks are endangered, she wanted to protect them. Her conservation journey took her to the Mojave Desert as part of the Women In Science Discovering Our Mojave internship.

Awe, focus, and a feeling of calm are all proven results of spending time in nature. This spring, the Mojave Desert Land Trust and Mil-Tree held the Force of Nature program in partnership with Big Morongo Canyon Preserve. Designed to support veterans’ health and well-being, the program offered immersive outdoor experiences that foster connection to the land, and to one another.