HOW YOU CAN HELP US HELP SAVE THE JOSHUA TREES.
STEPS TO HELP PROTECT THE WESTERN JOSHUA TREES
Link to the Center for Biological Diversity Petition
UPDATE : THE DEADLINE HAS PASSED FOR WRITING TO CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME, HOWEVER WE NEED AS MANY VOICES RATHER JOSHUA TREES NEED AS MANY VOICES PRESENT TO SPEAK UP AND SAY YOU SUPPORT THE CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY PETITION FOR THE ONE YEAR STUDY OF THE WESTERN JOSHUA TREE THAT WOULD DETERMINE A THREATENED STATUS AND PROTECTION UNDER CALIFORNIA ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT (CESA) ON AUGUST 20, 2020 STARTING AT 8:30 AM, CLICK HERE FOR THE AGENDA AND HOW TO SIGN UP VIA ZOOM. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A RESIDENT OF CALIFORNIA TO VOICE PROTECTION. ALSO A GOOD POINT TO MENTION IS JOSHUA TREE WOODLANDS ARE ALSO DESERT TORTOISE HABITAT, A FEDERALLY LISTED ENDANGERED SPECIES PROTECTED UNDER CESA.
If you are unfamiliar with the concern and would like more information below is the petition authored by the Conservation Director of the Center Biological Diversity, Brendan Cummings.
https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/plants/pdfs/CESA-petition-Western-Joshua-Tree-10-15-19.pdf
Link to the Mojave Desert Land Trust webinar with Climate Scientist, Dr. Patrick Gonzalez and Brendan Cummings of Center for Biological Diversity https://youtu.be/hFdEo9gLMLg
To go into further scientific research of climate change and impacts onto the Western Joshua Tree. This is a well written dissertation discussing ecology, morphology to the very topic of fungal associations. https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7fw5j5hq
1) EMAIL CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH & GAME Deadline is August 14, 2020
Email with the subject "RE: PLEASE HELP PROTECT OUR JOSHUA TREES" Eric Sklar President of California Fish and Wildlife fgc@fgc.ca.gov Chad Dibble Deputy Director Ecosystem Conservation Division chad.dibble@wildlife.ca.gov Stafford Lehr Deputy Director Wildlife and Fisheries Division stafford.lehr@wildlife.ca.gov Wendy Bogdan General Counsel Office of the General Counsel wendy.bogdan@wildlife.ca.gov Isabel Baer Native Plant Program Manager Habitat Conservation isabel
WHAT TO SAY
“I'm writing to urge you to protect western Joshua trees under the California Endangered Species Act as a threatened species. As you know, they face multiple threats to their survival, including climate change, wildfire, drought, invasive species, and habitat loss. Outside the national park, other federal lands that are home to Joshua trees are subject to poorly regulated activities that consume or degrade habitat, including ORV use, cattle grazing, and large-scale energy projects/rights-of-way. While much of the western Joshua tree's range is on public lands, about 40% of its California range is still on private land, of which only a tiny fraction is protected from development. All this spells disaster if we do not act now.
We are in the middle of a climate and extinction crisis, and we simply can't afford to wait to protect species such as the western Joshua tree. Under current climate projections, they are likely to decline by upwards of 90% in the coming decades, while much of their habitat will be lost to development, absent strengthened protection under law. A California Endangered Species Act listing would support existing western Joshua tree populations, protect habitat, and mandate recovery actions for their survival.
I strongly urge the California Fish and Game Commission to accept the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's recommendation for advancing western Joshua trees to candidacy as a threatened species. Please move forward quickly to protect western Joshua trees knowing you have my full support “
2) Assembly Member Chad Mayes has advanced a bill that would rewrite the California Endangered Species Act from listing the Western Joshua Tree and would override the California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. If you live in California write your local elected representatives and tell them you OPPOSE AB 235. http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/
3) To make the most powerful impact we need as many present at the California Department of Fish and Wildlife Zoom hearing in August which each person will have the opportunity to speak on why the Western Joshua Tree Yucca brevifolia needs protection. CDFW calendar here https://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=181827&inline&fbclid=IwAR3KSu5Yv_-uKlXhlEpQBAZgvjp41P2vSiqgdk4Ln5yKGsQ5mlDRHwyP7kY
We will also be sharing the Zoom link once it is released on our Voice of Stewards for Joshua Trees group page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/voicesofstewardsforjoshuatrees/
4) If you are a business owner in the Morongo Basin / Mojave Desert please email the California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife and the committee expressing how Joshua Trees benefit you financially and the local economy by being an attraction that draws people from all over the world. (for example)
5) Join our VOICES OF STEWARDS FOR JOSHUA TREES GROUP for updates to California Department of Fish & Wildlife meetings and attend the August 19 & 20 meeting, Yucca Valley City Council Meetings to VOICE your protection.
