“Having more women in science gives us a voice”
The Women in Science Discovering our Mojave (WISDOM) program provides hands-on experience for women studying STEM fields. Having more women in this field and in science gives us a voice and representation for future women. Women, especially women of minority backgrounds bring new ideas and different perspectives because of our diversity and unique upbringing.
How did MDLT become a record-holder in land conservation?
National parks often contain private land within their borders. This can be problematic when it comes to managing natural resources. The Mojave Desert Land Trust plays an important role in conserving these lands by acquiring them from willing sellers and conveying them over to the National Park Service. MDLT has now conveyed more tracts of land to the National Parks system than any nonprofit since 2006.
Volunteering deepens a connection to the land
As a volunteer land steward, Wendy is responsible for MDLT’s 470-acre spectacular Flat Top Mesa property. Land steward volunteers are trained and help monitor MDLT protected lands by visiting assigned areas periodically, conducting visual site inspections, and collecting simple data to keep record of land changes or management concerns.
Women return to tracking bighorn in the Mojave
Desert Bighorn (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) are a protected species. They migrate during the different seasons, accessing areas that have food, water, and shelter. The Women in Science Discovering Our Mojave (WISDOM) internship has provided new insights into the movement of bighorn sheep in the Mojave Desert, with game cameras collecting data and images of the elusive species.
Action alert: Help protect the Joshua tree
We are at a critical juncture for the western Joshua tree. It may seem impossible to imagine the southern California desert without its signature Joshua tree forests, but without adequate protective measures to address impending threats, it’s a very likely scenario.
The first plants were people
“Among the Cahuilla, plants were not viewed simply as objects which might or might not be useful to man, but as living beings with whom one could communicate and interact….Plants, like any life form, were therefore treated with respect.”
- Temalpakh, by Lowell John Bean and Katherine Siva Saubel
Know your desert pollinators, and the plants they rely on
Native plants in the Mojave Desert are visited by hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies. These pollinators are vital to our ecosystem. But they need our help.