Lending a hand to repair a unique riparian habitat
The Earth Day collaboration between the Mojave Desert Land Trust, Four Wheel Campers, Truma North America, and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service brought together outdoor enthusiasts from different corners of the west to help restore the unique riparian ecosystem at MDLT’s Palisades Ranch property near Victorville.
"Unmetered time": An interview with artist and educator Conni McKenzie
For multi-disciplinary artist and educator Conni McKenzie, the Mojave Desert inspired feelings of community and helped process climate anxiety by reconnecting to nature. This spring, Conni brought her immersive experiences to local elementary students and adults alike through partnership with Mojave Desert Land Trust, and performed her piece “Borrowed” through BoxoPROJECTS at Black Rock Nature Center in Joshua Tree National Park.
In honor of BIPOC Mental Health Month, we spoke with Conni about dance, the importance of community, and the concept of ‘unmetered time’.
Dark skies and fault lines: Interactive education in the Mojave Desert
Experiential learning is central to the Mojave Desert Land Trust’s Desert Discovery Field Studies program. With screen time increasing and digital media constantly vying for our attention, providing opportunities for real-world, hands-on education is crucial. When students investigate and share their discoveries with others, they learn faster, understand better, and retain information for longer.
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.
Caliente Creek: community-centered conservation
Tucked in between multiple mountain ranges hundreds of miles from MDLT headquarters, Caliente Creek may seem far removed from the iconic Joshua trees, creosote, and ocotillo of California’s deserts. But Caliente Creek is a connective thread that ties together plant and animal communities from across California. The Sierra Nevada, Mojave Desert, San Joaquin Valley, and Southern California ecosystems all converge here.