The trees, known for their twisted limbs and stark silhouettes, are found largely within the Mojave Desert, including areas in and around Joshua Tree National Park. The park remains a powerful economic engine for surrounding communities. In 2024, about 3 million visitors spent $179 million in the region, producing an estimated $214 million in local economic benefits, according to National Park Service data.

But conservation concerns are mounting as new energy and mining proposals move forward across the desert. Several large solar projects and rare earth mineral developments have been proposed in Joshua tree habitat. One approved solar project near Boron is expected to require the removal of 4,200 Joshua trees. Another rare earth mining proposal near Joshua Tree National Park could affect 32 square miles of habitat if it is developed.

Supporters of renewable energy projects point to their role in reducing reliance on fossil fuels, but conservation advocates say those benefits must be weighed against the loss of desert habitat and the long-term survival of Joshua trees.

The threat is not limited to development. Recent severe droughts have strained Joshua trees, despite their adaptation to hot and dry desert conditions. Climate projections point to more intense heat waves and drought in the decades ahead. Because Joshua trees can take at least 30 years to mature, scientists have warned that changing conditions could outpace their ability to adapt. Some research has suggested the species could be pushed toward extinction by the end of the century if current trends continue.

The loss of Joshua trees would affect more than the landscape. Twenty-five bird species depend on them, along with rare wildlife such as the pallid blue dotted butterfly and the desert tortoise. The Mojave Desert may appear sparse, but its ecosystem is highly connected, and Joshua trees provide important habitat in that network.

Their disappearance also could have serious consequences for desert towns that rely on park tourism and outdoor recreation. Communities near Joshua Tree National Park benefit from visitors who come to hike, camp, photograph the landscape and experience the desert environment.

Joshua trees have survived since the late Ice Age, when scientists believe now-extinct giant ground sloths helped disperse their seeds. Today, with those animals long gone and the climate changing rapidly, their future increasingly depends on human decisions about land use, conservation and development.

Conservation groups, including the Mojave Desert Land Trust, have been working to protect desert habitat and promote strategies aimed at preserving Joshua trees and the broader ecosystem. Advocates say local governments, businesses and state leaders should treat Joshua tree protection as a priority when considering new projects in the Mojave.

For many Southern California residents, Joshua trees are more than a backdrop. They are part of the region’s natural identity and a reminder of the fragile desert life that has endured for thousands of years. Without stronger protections, conservationists warn, future generations may not have the chance to see them standing across the Mojave.

Original source: CalMatters

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Joshua trees draw visitors from around the world to Joshua Tree National Park and surrounding desert communities, where tourism is a major economic driver. In 2024, about 3 million visitors to the park spent $179 million, producing an estimated $214 million in economic benefits for nearby communities, according to National Park Service data.

But as interest grows in energy and mining projects across the Mojave, conservation advocates and researchers warn that the habitat supporting Joshua trees is increasingly at risk.

Several large-scale solar developments and rare earth mining proposals are under consideration or moving forward in the region. One approved solar project near Boron is expected to remove about 4,200 Joshua trees. Another proposed rare earth mining project outside Joshua Tree National Park could affect roughly 32 square miles of Joshua tree habitat if it proceeds.

Supporters of renewable energy projects point to their role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and expanding clean power. But critics argue that such projects must be planned carefully to avoid sacrificing fragile desert ecosystems in the process.

Joshua trees already face significant environmental stress. Although they are adapted to harsh desert conditions, recent record-breaking droughts and extreme heat have strained the species. Climate projections indicate the Mojave could see more severe droughts and heat waves in the decades ahead.

Because Joshua trees often take at least 30 years to mature, scientists have warned that changing conditions may outpace the trees’ ability to adapt or reproduce successfully. Some research suggests Joshua trees could be pushed toward extinction by the end of the century if current trends continue.

The loss would affect more than the trees themselves. Joshua trees provide important habitat for desert wildlife, including 25 bird species, rare insects such as the pallid blue dotted butterfly, and species including the desert tortoise. The Mojave ecosystem, though often perceived as barren, is highly interconnected, and the decline of Joshua trees could ripple across the landscape.

The potential economic consequences also are significant for communities near Joshua Tree National Park, where local businesses depend heavily on ecotourism and the park’s distinctive scenery.

Joshua trees have survived since the late Ice Age, when now-extinct giant ground sloths helped disperse their seeds. Today, conservationists say human decisions will play a major role in determining whether the species remains a fixture of the Mojave.

Environmental advocates have urged local governments, businesses and developers to treat Joshua tree protection as a priority when considering new projects. They also point to organizations such as the Mojave Desert Land Trust, which works to conserve desert habitat, as part of broader efforts to protect the region.

For many visitors, the appeal of Joshua Tree National Park lies not only in the unusual silhouettes of the trees, but in the larger desert ecosystem they help support. Without stronger protections and more careful planning, advocates warn, future generations may not have the same opportunity to experience them.

Original source: CalMatters

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Someone had put cotton balls in the box so postal workers wouldn’t hear the snake’s rattle, the 60-year-old truck driver said.

“That’s attempted murder, if you ask me,” he said.

Bowles picked up the package Thursday and asked a friend to open it as they drove away from the post office that serves the Mojave Desert town near Joshua Tree National Park.

“When she opened the box, she threw it at me almost,” he said. “And she says, ‘There’s a snake in there.’”

Bowles pulled over and put the box by the curb, then used a stick to open it. He estimates the snake was about 2 feet long. He called 911 and Animal Control.

Animal Control picked up the snake, and a San Bernardino County deputy took a report that was forwarded to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, which is handling the investigation, the Sheriff’s Department said.

Patricia Mendoza, a postal inspector, said in an emailed statement that an investigation is ongoing.

The package, marked “fragile” in black marker, listed as a return address a home in Palm Coast, Fla., but tracking information indicates that it was mailed May 3 in Hayward, Calif.

“This is a first for me,” said Rick Boyd, the Animal Control supervisor for the city of Twentynine Palms, who responded to the incident. It was a Western rattlesnake, he said. The species, also known as the Northern Pacific rattlesnake, is common in Northern California but isn’t usually found in Southern California.

Boyd said he doesn’t believe it’s possible that the snake slithered into the package while it was in transit and noted that it appears to have been intentionally mailed.

Assassination attempts by rattlesnake have precedent in Southern California.

In 1978, Los Angeles trial attorney Paul Morantz nearly died after he was bitten by a rattlesnake that someone had placed in his mailbox. Police arrested Charles Dederich, who led the Synanon paramilitary cult, against which Morantz had won a judgment, on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder; they also arrested two of Dederich’s foot soldiers, known as Imperial Marines, on suspicion of attempted murder.

The preliminary hearing featured the snake, floating in formaldehyde, introduced as Exhibit 1. All three men pleaded no contest, avoiding trial.

While the Twentynine Palms incident may seem improbable, it is possible, according to local wildlife experts.

Rattlesnakes are resilient — they can survive for up to six months without food or water, as long as temperatures aren’t too extreme, said Danielle Wall, a snake wrangler who serves the high desert.

“It is 100% possible for a snake to survive in the mail like that, as long as they don’t overheat or freeze,” she said.

Bowles on Monday learned that a second, virtually identical package was recently mailed to his home in Florida. He has directed family members to take it to the police station rather than open it, he said.

“I’m trying to figure out, do I have any enemies?” he said.

“I’m not a gangster,” he added. “I’m a truck driver.”

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There is truly nothing like experiencing a desert oasis. My favorite such place in California is the Amargosa River, which flows intermittently for 185 miles from Nevada into eastern California.

On my last visit to the Amargosa in the Mojave Desert, I sat on the riverbank in awe of its healthy, thriving wetlands in the middle of this arid landscape. Once you spend time in one of California’s three deserts, you realize how diverse they are. From rugged watercourses to rolling dunes and towering peaks – our deserts contain some of our state’s most unique natural treasures.

I’m grateful to Assemblymember James Ramos, a Democrat from Rancho Cucamonga, who represents portions of Southern California’s Inland Empire, for championing the new Desert Conservation Program within the state’s Wildlife Conservation Board. Signed into law in September, this is a first-ever program aimed at providing state funding opportunities to help protect California’s deserts.

While the creation of the program is a critical first step, it now requires funding. Our state leaders should ensure full funding for this program so that we can provide much-needed investments in the communities, wildlife and landscapes of the California Desert region.

The state should fully fund the California Desert Conservation Program because it will help fulfill Gov. Gavin Newsom’s October 2020 executive order, which calls on the state to safeguard 30% of our lands and waters by 2030. This 30×30 effort is driven by scientific research suggesting that protecting public lands and other natural areas is one of the most effective strategies to mitigate climate change and biodiversity loss. 30×30 also urges agencies to conserve lands to increase access to the outdoors for underserved communities.

Despite its geographic size and importance, the California Desert region has not received dedicated state funding in the past. This is a huge, missed opportunity given the region spans one-quarter of the state and is critical to our efforts to fight climate change.

In fact, California desert lands store nearly 10% of the state’s total carbon emissions. Undisturbed vegetation throughout the desert sequesters large amounts of carbon and stores it in roots and soils, which helps reduce carbon in our atmosphere. By fully funding the California Desert Conservation Program, the state can preserve the desert’s incredible abilities to fight climate change and ensure the region can thrive into the future. Investing in the California Desert Conservation Program will also help reach 30×30 because more resources would improve access to nature. The California Desert region’s stunning parks and public lands draw visitors from around the world. One-half of the state’s population lives within an hour’s drive of the California Desert region, but too many communities don’t have the resources to travel to and experience the wonders of this area. Furthermore, communities of color may not feel welcome or safe exploring the desert because staff and other visitors have historically been overwhelmingly white. Our leaders should dedicate additional funding for trail creation, bilingual signage and educational and outreach programs to help bring more diverse users to the desert.

Finally, funding the California Desert Conservation Program will help achieve 30×30’s conservation goals by protecting the largest still-intact ecosystem in the lower 48 states. The California Desert region is incredibly bio-diverse. In the Mojave Desert, there are approximately 210 species of plants that are found nowhere else on Earth. There are many iconic plants and animals that would benefit from increased conservation investments, including Joshua trees, threatened desert tortoises and Mohave ground squirrels, desert bighorn sheep and golden eagles.

Thank you, Assemblymember Ramos, for leading the way to create the California Desert Conservation Program. I urge state leaders to meaningfully invest in this program to help achieve our 30×30 goals. Setting this ambitious and smart framework demonstrates that our state continues to be a leader in fighting climate change and ensuring access to nature for all. Fully funding the California Desert Conservation Program can help us get there.

Pamela Flick | Guest Commentary

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