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.
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 California desert environment is “extremely fragile, easily scarred, and slowly healed.” This apt description, from the 1976 designation of the California Desert Conservation Area, drives home the need for specialized stewardship of this beautiful landscape. This photo essay by Land Steward Stream Tuss explains what she does while out on MDLT lands, from checking for traces of tortoise activity to installing vital signage.