STATEMENT
October 12, 2022
Contact: Jessica Dacey, Director of Communications
Phone: 760-820-2275
Email: jessica@mdlt.org 

Mojave Desert Land Trust responds to California Fish and Game Commission postponement vote on western Joshua tree listing 

California Fish and Game Commission has postponed a decision as to whether the western Joshua tree is listed under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). Members voted on October 12 to continue their vote on the western Joshua tree listing at their February 2023 meeting. The tree’s candidacy status remains in place in the interim. 

The Mojave Desert Land Trust fully supports listing the western Joshua tree under CESA. 

“The science clearly states that the western Joshua tree is imperiled in accordance with California Endangered Species Act policy. Although the fate of the western Joshua tree remains in limbo, the species will continue to benefit from interim protections during its candidacy period. But the clock is ticking. Climate change is the greatest environmental threat facing the Mojave Desert. We urge the Commission members to take bold, decisive action in applying CESA as a tool to protect our state’s most vulnerable species, particularly the western Joshua tree, against this extraordinary threat. We welcome the opportunity for stakeholders to work together on all fronts, including prospective legislation, to develop an ambitious conservation plan that addresses the plight of this iconic species.” - Kelly Herbinson and Cody Hanford, Joint Executive Directors, Mojave Desert Land Trust 

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. Since its founding in 2006 the land trust has conserved over 100,000 acres, conveying more tracts of land to the National Park Service in the last decade than any other organization. In addition to acquiring land, the land trust established a seed bank to ensure the preservation of native species. MDLT operates an onsite nursery at its Joshua Tree headquarters which propagates native species for ecosystem restoration. MDLT educates and advocates for the conservation of the desert, involving hundreds of volunteers in our work. For more information, visit mdlt.org.