FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 15, 2017
Contact: Frazier Haney, Conservation Director, Mojave Desert Land Trust
Phone: 760-366-5440 x 229
frazier@mdlt.org

Mojave Desert Land Trust Transfers 3,100 Acres of Land to Mojave National Preserve

Mojave National Preserve, CA – This month, the Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) transferred 110 parcels of land, totaling 3,100 acres, to the Mojave National Preserve.

These parcels are both ecologically and historically significant to the California desert. Not only do the lands contain forests of juniper and Mojave Yucca, they also include a century-old homestead site that served as the setting for the local history book, Maruba: Homesteading in the Lanfair Valley.

MDLT’s inholding work is a ten-year program focused on assembling key land ownership for the Mojave National Preserve, Joshua Tree National Park, and Death Valley National Park.  When these parks were created, many parcels of private land existed inside their boundaries, and still exist today.  Development of this private land can degrade neighboring park resources, impact public access, and cause management problems for park staff. MDLT purchases these private properties with the eventual goal of transferring the lands to the parks.

“Our great desert parks are immeasurably enhanced by MDLT’s work in securing these lands for transfer to public ownership,” professed Greg Gress, regional realty chief for the National Park Service. “Scenic views, sensitive habit and historic resources that might otherwise be lost are now protected in perpetuity for all to appreciate and enjoy.  MDLT is a model of effective local action in support of these nationally treasured landscapes.”

Over the past decade, MDLT has conveyed 453 parcels, totaling about 23,000 acres, to National Park Service.  Once these lands are transferred, they become the property of the American public and immediately become a permanent part of the surrounding National Park. The conveyance of these 3,100 acres to the Mojave National Preserve represents the continued success of MDLT’s efforts to protect public lands in the Mojave Desert.

The Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the mission to protect and care for lands with natural, scenic and cultural value within the Mojave Desert. For more information, visit www.mdlt.org