Aspiring shark biologist sinks her teeth into the Mojave Desert
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.
A growing collaboration for post-fire restoration
The Mojave Desert Land Trust’s native plant nursery is excited to begin a cooperative partnership with Joshua Tree National Park to proactively grow 3,300 plants for future post-fire restoration within the park and on other public lands throughout the Mojave Desert. Along with species such as creosote bush, big galleta grass, desert globemallow, and Parry’s nolina, we’re growing 825 western Joshua trees – a candidate species under the California Endangered Species Act that is also protected through the 2023 Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act.
Veterans build community – and calm – through conservation
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.