CDFW announce land acquisition near Pioneertown for Western Joshua Tree conservation

As part of their goals of protecting the Western Joshua Tree, The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has made a purchase of land intended for use as Western Joshua tree habitat in the Morongo Basin.

On August 24, CDFW acquired 640 acres of Western Joshua tree habitat northwest of Pioneertown in San Bernardino County. The land will be co-managed by CDFW and California Native American tribes.

The purchase was made using the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Fund, which was created using the revenue from take permits. Take permits are granted to businesses and residents who file a request to remove or relocate a Western Joshua Tree. The costs associated with the permits are used to finance programs that will preserve the Western Joshua Tree, which is considered a protected species by the State of California. 

“This is an example of the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Plan successfully put into action, as was intended, to help us protect this unique species in collaboration with tribal partners,” said CDFW Director Meghan Hertel. “There is nothing else quite like the western Joshua tree. They are an important part of Native American cultural traditions, a keystone species for our desert ecosystems and they are also a sight worth taking a road trip for.”

This is the second property acquired using funds from the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Fund. The first parcel is 283 acres east of Bakersfield that was acquired in 2025.  A total of 923 acres of habitat have now been conserved; CDFW is currently looking into additional properties totaling 2,500 acres.