FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 14, 2016
Contact: Shauna Tucker
Phone: 760.366.5440
Email: shauna@mdlt.org

MOJAVE DESERT LAND TRUST APPLAUDS COMPLETION OF THE DESERT RENEWABLE ENERGY CONSERVATION PLAN

Joshua Tree, CA – Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) applauds federal and state officials for the completion of the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan, which seeks to strike a balance for development and conservation on public lands across California’s Desert. The Plan has identified the lowest conflict areas for renewable energy development that exceed what is needed for the State’s climate change targets. MDLT’s focus was the conservation component of the Plan with a particular emphasis on the protection of unique desert landscapes like the Chuckwalla Bench, a spectacular area MDLT is actively working to conserve. The Chemehuevi Valley, another focus area for MDLT, lies in the eastern Mojave and will benefit from the conservation measures of the Plan. Silurian Valley, Amargosa Basin, and the Yuha Desert are among other important desert landscapes for both wildlife and people which have received protection. These places now join a collection of public lands across the United States – the National Conservation Lands, which are some of the most significant and unique lands across our nation.

“Today, we are happy to celebrate protection of an extensive network of vital places in the California Desert. This will directly advance MDLT’s mission to protect and connect the region’s ecosystem,” says Frazier Haney, MDLT Conservation Director. “Many landscapes in the California Desert are a patchwork of public and private lands. While MDLT can invest to protect private lands through purchase in conservation areas, it is critical that adjacent public lands are protected as well. Working across these boundaries creates a cohesive, connected ecosystem,” Haney says.

MDLT’s 24.5 million acre service area covers the entire California Desert, which comprises 28% of the state of California and a majority of the landscapes that fall under the Plan. In addition to direct land acquisition for conservation, MDLT leads land management projects, engages the public through outreach and education, and is implementing a native plant nursery and seed bank to help restore degraded lands.

“When we conserve the desert, we protect and connect everything that comes with it: starry night skies, vast scenic views, diverse flora and fauna, precious water resources and ancient cultural sites, to name a few,” says Monica Mahoney, MDLT Director of Education and Public Engagement. “Our public programming provides opportunities for current and future generations to get actively involved and to experience these wonders, decompress from hectic lives, and enjoy a sense of place and purpose in our beautiful desert,” Mahoney added.

Mojave Desert Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to protect the Mojave Desert ecosystem and its scenic and cultural resource values through acquisition, land stewardship, education & outreach, and strategic partnerships. This year MDLT celebrates ten years of protecting and connecting more than 60,000 acres throughout the California Desert, including the ongoing restoration and stewardship of nearly 16,000 acres, and continues to carry forth its vision of acquiring, protecting and caring for many more acres of land, habitat and wildlife corridors throughout its 24.5 million-acre service region.