What is desert stewardship?
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.
Volunteering deepens a connection to the land
As a volunteer land steward, Wendy is responsible for MDLT’s 470-acre spectacular Flat Top Mesa property. Land steward volunteers are trained and help monitor MDLT protected lands by visiting assigned areas periodically, conducting visual site inspections, and collecting simple data to keep record of land changes or management concerns.