The Mojave Desert Land Trust manages over 60,000 acres across the California desert, some of which we will steward in perpetuity. Restoration of these lands can require trash and invasive plant removal, trail maintenance, and repair of degraded areas with vertical mulching and erosion control. MDLT adheres to standards and practices developed by the Land Trust Alliance to protect ecologically significant lands within the Colorado and Mojave Deserts. MDLT has protected approximately 120,000 acres since 2006.
For land use questions or concerns, please email info@mdlt.org.
Species preservation
The western Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) is a candidate to become listed as a threatened species in California. The Mojave Desert Land Trust has been working closely with our conservation partners to support the listing of the western Joshua tree and is following the latest developments.
The desert tortoise population is in steep decline — in some areas, the population has decreased by 90%. Each year the Mojave Desert Land Trust heads out to areas of critical tortoise habitat looking for signs of hope for this threatened species.
Prairie falcons rely on special nesting sites that are under threat. The Mojave Desert Land Trust has launched a new conservation program to help tackle the problem in the California desert.
The Mojave Desert Seed Bank is a repository of seeds of the native flora of the Mojave and Colorado Deserts. Seed banks are a critical management tool for the conservation and understanding of wild plant populations. They also serve as an insurance policy against extinction. Seeds from the Mojave Desert Seed Bank are used to restore degraded habitat, for research, and for the long-term conservation of species.
Restoration
Rewilding a Mojave oasis
In the driest desert in North America, Palisades Ranch is one of the few locations along the Mojave River where water flows aboveground year-round. Once slated for development, this 1,647-acre property was acquired by the Mojave Desert Land Trust in 2018.
Watch this video to learn more about our restoration plans.
Although the Mojave River supports rich habitat, Palisades Ranch has been impacted by illegal off-highway vehicle (OHV) activity, invasive plants, human development, and agriculture. MDLT is working to restore and protect the rich habitats and resources at Palisades Ranch. The California Wildlife Conservation Board is a project partner and funder of Palisades Ranch. If you would like to get involved, learn more, or provide feedback about MDLT’s restoration plans, please email: info@mdlt.org or call 760-366-5440.
Our nursery facilities include an 1,800 square foot greenhouse, a 6,000 square foot shade house, and 1,500 square feet of growing area for seed increase production. We can grow plant material for projects according to contract specifications. Services include site-specific seed collection, seed bulking, and contract growing of container plants.
The tricolored blackbird population has steeply declined in recent decades. Stinging nettles grown by the Mojave Desert Land Trust could help turn that around. MDLT was contracted to grow plants for a restoration project at Pleitito Creek in Wind Wolves Preserve.
Palisades Ranch acts as a crucial wildlife corridor that allows flora and fauna to migrate and thrive. MDLT acquired the 1,647-acre property in 2018 with plans to make Palisades Ranch a sustainable oasis in the West Mojave through invasive plant management, habitat restoration and restoration of the floodplain and riparian habitats. Learn about our restoration plans here.
What is desert stewardship?
Get involved!
The success of Mojave Desert Land Trust’s mission depends on our dedicated network of volunteers, supporters and partners who share our vision of dark night skies, clean air and water, and an abundance of native plants and animals throughout the California deserts.
There are lots of opportunities to support MDLT’s mission to preserve the Mojave and Colorado Deserts for future generations.