For Immediate Release
July 18, 2016
Contact: Lesley Hughes
760.366.5440
lesley@mojavedesertlandtrust.org

Mojave Desert Land Trust Participates in Latino Conservation Week by Leading a Spanish Language Ethnobotany Plant Walk and Workshop at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve in the New Sand to Snow National Monument

JOSHUA TREE, CA – Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) is participating in the 3rd Annual Latino Conservation Week by leading a Spanish language ethnobotany plant walk and workshop on Wednesday, July 20th from 8 AM until Noon. The walk will be led by MDLT’s Yanina “Yani” Aldao along the boardwalk and trails within the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve (BMCP) and will be followed by a native plants workshop in the education center. The BMCP is the homeland of the Serrano and Cahuilla tribes whose knowledge of the native plants found within the Preserve span thousands of years. Earlier this year President Obama designated 154,000 acres, including the BMCP, as the Sand to Snow National Monument. This new national monument is an ecological and cultural treasure and one of the most biodiverse areas in southern California, supporting more than 240 species of birds and twelve threatened and endangered wildlife species. The BMCP is known for being one of the most culturally significant and geologically unique oases in the Mojave Desert.

Opening remarks begin at 8 AM with the guided interpretive walk following shortly thereafter. The plant walk will conclude at 11 AM and will be followed by a brown bag lunch-hour gathering during which small intimate groups will have the opportunity to view seeds and pollinator specimens of the Preserve under a microscope in the education center. Participants will learn about the many ways the Serrano and Cahuilla used native plants for medicine, food, shelter, clothing, and rituals. Attendees are asked to bring a brownbag lunch and water bottle and to be appropriately dressed and prepared for spending a few hours in an outdoor environment. MDLT will provide beverages for lunch and all tools required for the indoor workshop.

Latino Conservation Week is an initiative of Hispanic Access Foundation (HAF). HAF created and is leading the 3rd Annual Latino Conservation Week to support the Latino community getting into the outdoors and participating in activities to protect our natural resources. During this week, Latino community and faith-based organizations, particularly in the Southwestern United States will go on hiking or camping outings, learn about conservation efforts in their community, and show their support for permanently protecting our land, water, and air. For a complete schedule of events for the week please follow this link: http://www.publicnewsservice.org/2016-07-13/public-lands-wilderness/third-annual-latino-conservation-week-starts-saturday/a52860-1

Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) 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 and strategic partnerships. Since 2006 the organization has protected over 60,000 acres of desert land.
www.mojavedesertlandtrust.org