Since its founding in 2006, the Mojave Desert Land Trust has conserved over 100,000 acres, conveying more tracts of land to the Joshua Tree National Park Service in the last decade than any other organization. In addition to acquiring land, the land trust has established a seed bank to ensure the preservation of native species.

MECCA HILLS, Calif. (CN) — Stand among the jagged rock formations here, with the clear desert sky above, and it feels like you're deep in the wilderness, far removed from cars and other signs of modern life. 

But Mecca Hills — part of the newly established Chuckwalla National Monument — is not in the middle of nowhere. Instead, this sanctuary is right on the periphery of popular and upscale vacation spots like Palm Springs, Joshua Tree National Park and the site of Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.