Mojave Desert Land Trust

In case you missed it: After several years of grassroots and advocacy campaigning, it’s official! Chuckwalla National Monument was established this week by President Biden. The Mojave Desert Land Trust is proud to have served as part of the movement to designate this new desert national monument, in collaboration with our conservation partners, Tribal leaders, and the greater community. MDLT Executive Director Kelly Herbinson and Public Policy Officer Krystian Lahage were thrilled and honored to have been among those invited to witness the official designation in person at the White House. MDLT thanks President Biden for recognizing the overwhelming public support for this designation and the tireless efforts of the monument’s congressional champions Senator Alex Padilla and Rep. Raul Ruiz, M.D. We can’t wait to see you on the trail in your new Chuckwalla National Monument! Learn more about the new national monument and read the official proclamation here: www.mdlt.org/chuckwalla. You can also sign up for updates to learn the latest on how you can get involved in the monument’s implementation.

Looking back on some of our favorite wildlife sightings of 2024 as we look forward to protecting more habitat in 2025! These critters were all spotted on one of our trail cameras in a frequently-traversed Morongo Basin wildlife corridor. Audio: Moonlight over Montebello – LA LOM Video: Jessica Graybill

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is proposing to list the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act to extend protections to this iconic species. Though habitat loss puts this beloved butterfly at risk of disappearance, you can help support the species by taking action in your own yard. As its obligate host plant, milkweed (Asclepias spp.) provides both home and nourishment as monarchs migrate to and from their overwintering colonies on the California coast. There are many native milkweeds throughout California. By planting the species native to your region, your yard can become a safe haven for these charming creatures.

“There’s growing attention on the need to save seeds not only for food supply but to restore damaged and destroyed ecosystems. Refrigerators hold over 6 million seeds collected so far through the land trust’s Mojave Desert Seed Bank, part of a pivotal race to save the desert ecosystem from climate change by collecting seeds from thousands of desert plant species.” Thank you Erin Rode and SFGATE for highlighting our work to tackle this issue. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g3y5sAPF

California's Colorado and Mojave deserts are among the last relatively intact ecosystems outside Alaska, boasting one-of-a-kind species and remarkable biodiversity. Thanks to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), passed 60 years ago, and the California Desert Protection Act (CDPA) passed 30 years after, legislators helped establish a legacy of landscape preservation that allows organizations like MDLT to help conserve and steward these fragile landscapes. However, protections for California’s deserts could vanish if these funds and laws are rescinded in coming years. We must act now to avoid the loss of biodiversity and the desert’s iconic natural wonders. Read our new blog post to learn how federal support is crucial to continue the conservation of California’s deserts: https://lnkd.in/ghaiCgsy Photo by Ella Richie DeMaria

Sustainability rocks! Join us for the first annual 29 Palms Rock Rumble Royale, a climbing competition and fundraiser hosted by Cliffhanger Guides supporting MDLT and our friends at Joshua Tree National Park Association and Friends of Joshua Tree. Hundreds of thousands of climbers come to Joshua Tree annually, comprising more than ¼ of all visitors! Join for community-building and a chance to win prizes as we come together to raise funds for conservation. Get your tickets today: https://lnkd.in/gmKxx4mF Photo courtesy Emmie Snead

We knew our community was passionate and committed, but we’re truly grateful and honestly blown away by how many of you stepped in to support us during #GivingTuesday. Together, we met our #GIvingTuesday goal $15,000 - thanks to the match from our Board of Directors - means we have raised a hugely impactful total of $30,000 in funding for MDLT. For a small but mighty team like ours, this is a huge boost for our all-out efforts to save the Joshua tree and the California desert ecosystem it calls home. With your support, MDLT will be proudly advancing a range of innovative and hands-on projects we know can make a difference for this icon of the desert. In the life of a Joshua tree, #GivingTuesday might be the blink of an eye, but this year, we made that moment count for the Mojave. From all of us at MDLT, thank you so much for your financial support and for trusting us to fight to save the Joshua trees from extinction.

Your gift can be doubled this #GivingTuesday to save the Joshua tree and our California deserts! With the Joshua tree facing extinction by the end of the century, MDLT is dramatically expanding and accelerating our work to save it. But we need your help. If we can raise $15,000 by GivingTuesday, every gift will be DOUBLED to fuel our work! Donate now! https://lnkd.in/dP3jV__b

Tomorrow is #GivingTuesday, and I’m hoping you will support the work Mojave Desert Land Trust is doing to protect our California desert. I hope you’ll also support MDLT because they recognize that a huge part of defending our future is supporting young environmental educators like myself. Just a few weeks ago, I was able to gather 60+ other young people to experience the unique beauty and importance of desert ecology with MDLT. During our field trip to the Mojave, the excitement and inspiration we all felt together was so powerful. This field trip allowed people to learn directly from MDLT about ongoing policies, conservation practices, and the incredible work happening on the ground to protect our deserts. This experience was part of the Teaching Climate Together film series. When creating Queer Brown Vegan media projects like this, I always think about how we can go beyond the screen to connect people directly with nature and inspire deeper engagement. Like many of you, I know that we are all too close to losing magical species like the Joshua tree to climate change. I know we are all deeply anxious, disheartened and disappointed by the lack of urgent action to tackle our biggest environmental challenges. But I also know the power of my fellow creatives, activists and nature-defenders to make a difference. You can help us continue that good work this #GivingTuesday. If you can’t give today, I hope you’ll still join us by signing the MDLT petition to save the Joshua tree https://lnkd.in/gE-3Adgs Let’s continue the adventure of celebrating and protecting our planet in 2025 and beyond. #nonprofit #environmentaleducation #genz #conservation #biodiversity

Scientists predict that climate change could drive the Joshua tree to extinction by the end of the century unless we take bold action now. MDLT is expanding our work in a big way, but we need your help. Have your #GivingTuesday gift doubled today to make twice the difference for the California desert! https://lnkd.in/dP3jV__b