Latino Conservation Week: Essential reading list
Latino Conservation Week celebrates the connections of the Latino community and their passion for the outdoors. Compiled by MDLT staff and our partners in conservation from our desert communities, we hope this reading list inspires you to learn more about the world around us from our community of Latino voices.
The women mapping the Mojave’s dark night skies
WISDOM interns discovered the darkest spot in the western portion of Mojave Trails National Monument. A new group is continuing that quest for the entire monument.
Juneteenth reading list
Juneteenth commemorates the day the last enslaved people were emancipated in the United States in 1865. These nonfiction books by black authors continue to shape our culture, contribute to conservation awareness, celebrate exploration, and acknowledge the ongoing work towards equality still necessary over 150 years later.
Landscaping with desert native plants
With environmental threats like habitat loss and climate change upon us, our beloved wildlife and pollinators will appreciate the sanctuary of your yard. Native plants are well-adapted to this climate and soil, making them a low-maintenance way to beautify your outdoor spaces.
Dark sky data revealed for Mojave Trails National Monument
In February 2021, MDLT’s Dark Night Sky Measurement Project finished a six-month long survey of night sky quality in Mojave Trails National Monument. Women In Science Discovering Our Mojave (WISDOM) interns were able to contribute vital scientific research in the monument.
Get weeding! Help manage invasive plants in the Mojave
While seeing splashes of bright green amidst our sandy washes might seem like a sight for sore eyes, not all of the greenery is beneficial. Some of these are invasive species that if left unchecked, can run rampant over the landscape, harming ecosystems and the animals who rely on native flora for food. When gardening in your little slice of desert paradise, you’ll want to pull the invasive weeds as soon as you notice them to help the native plants to thrive. How will you know the difference? Read on!
The ultimate desert reading list
Inspired to learn more about the California desert or Indigenous history and culture? We’ve compiled some of the favorite desert reads of Columba Quintero, of the Native American Land Conservancy, Brendan Cummings, of the Center for Biological Diversity, Ken Layne, of the Desert Oracle, and Geary Hund, of the Mojave Desert Land Trust.