An enthusiastic group of protesters gathered in Yucca Valley Saturday night to support a petition through the Department of Fish and Wildlife to have the western Joshua tree listed as a threatened species through the California Endangered Species Act. Reporter Andrew Dieleman observed the protest, and files this report…
The message of protesters at Saturday’s rally was clear: the Joshua Tree must be declared a threatened species. Rally organizer Christina Sanchez said that the trees are threatened not only by elements of climate change, but also urban development.
“We’ve got to stop developing on raw land and preserve these Joshua Trees… we have to rethink the way that we are living.”
Sanchez also strongly opposed statements from Yucca Valley Mayor Jeff Drozd and Town Manager Curtis Yakimow who recently reiterated the Town’s opposition to the petition, saying that the restriction would be burdensome to property owners who wish to maximizing the use of their property.
The California Fish and Game Commission will vote on the petition during their next meetings on August 19-20.
