A year ago, the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act (WJTCA) was enacted to protect the culturally and ecologically important tree while supporting the state’s renewable energy and housing development priorities. Part of this effort is the ongoing development of a conservation plan. Yesterday (July 11, 2024), the California Department of Fish and Wildlife held a public meeting to report on their findings for the best ways to preserve the trees.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife Management Plan for the Western Joshua Tree continues to be refined. While the presenters reviewed the greatest threats to the tree, wildfires, development-related habitat destruction, and climate change, as well as best practices for ensuring the survival of existing and transplanted trees, much of the public comment revealed a high level of frustration and disappointment over the imminent destruction of 4 to 5,000 Western Joshua Trees to make way for the industrial scale Aratina Solar Project in eastern Kern County.
Public criticism focused on the high costs paid by individual property owners wishing to remove a few trees as opposed to the unknown costs born by corporate interests for the destruction of thousands of trees.
Public input and inquiries are welcome through July 31 and may be submitted via email to [email protected]. The full meeting may be reviewed on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife YouTube channel.
The western Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) is an iconic species in California that is both ecologically and culturally important. Western Joshua trees occur across a large portion of California’s desert. Yet, species distribution models suggest that by the end of the 21st century, much of the species’ range may no longer be viable habitat.
The WJTCA creates a streamlined permitting framework for certain development activities and collects mitigation fees for the acquisition and conservation of western Joshua tree habitat and other actions to conserve western Joshua tree. This will offset the impacts of permitted projects that negatively impact western Joshua trees and help to conserve the species on a landscape scale.
