MOJAVE DESERT LAND TRUST BUYS 630 ACRE “JUNIPER CANYON” PROPERTY

Not even two months after the Mojave Desert Land Trust announced it was trying to raise the last $11,000 it needed to buy 630 acres bordering Joshua Tree National Park, the land trust announced Tuesday it has purchased the property it calls Juniper Canyon. The land trust said it’s been working for more than seven years to buy the property near Covington Flats that is covered with pinyons and junipers and is home to desert tortoises. The land trust participated in the 2017 Give Big charity campaign drive, and raised almost three times the amount of funds it needed. The Mojave Desert Land Trust plans to give Juniper Canyon to Joshua Tree National Park. But first, land trust volunteers will clean up and remove dump sites on the property, pull invasive weeds, restore native plants, and work to eliminate signs of irresponsible off-road vehicle use.