Joshua trees need bold action. So do we.
If you are reading these words, you probably have a relationship with Joshua trees. Some of you grew up among them and know them as family. Some of you moved to the desert later in life, at least in part, because of them. Or maybe some of you have never seen one in real life, and you hope to make your way to the Mojave to see their spiny branches warmed by the hot sun.
Targeted conservation for the desert tortoise
Desert tortoises are one of the oldest extant species in the United States, having resided in the Mojave Desert for an estimated 15 to 20 million years. In the past century, changes to their habitat from the ongoing threats of urbanization, off-highway vehicle activity, predation, large-scale renewable energy projects, wildfires, and proliferation of invasive species have caused a significant population decline. In 2023 MDLT began work on a three-year restoration project within critical Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) habitat in the Superior-Cronese region near Barstow, California, thanks to generous funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. This unique project is part of a larger initiative, the Desert Tortoise Recovery Partnership.
Protecting springs in the driest desert of North America
In the driest desert in North America, seeps and springs percolate in the nooks and crannies where mountain ranges meet. The Mojave Desert Land Trust stewards and protects several springs that have served as vital watering holes and homelands for animals and humans alike. Take an interactive look inside these Desert Springs properties in our new storymap.