As Joshua trees face increasing threats under climate change and rising temperatures, Joshua Tree National Park is being pro-active in their protection of these iconic members of the yucca family. Reporter Heather Clisby has the details…
To help our beloved Joshua Trees face a hotter world, Joshua Tree National Park has been clearing out invasive grasses, such as cheatgrass and Red brome, along the road to Covington Flats. Neil Frakes, the vegetation branch chief for the Park, explained that the removal extended 30 feet on both sides of the road to protect against severe wildfires.
Frakes stated that they also removed wood fuels within 15 feet of the road edge. He pointed to a recent study from UC Riverside that predicted a dire future for the Joshua Tree. Despite being iconic symbols of the high desert, Joshua Trees don’t do well in intense heat and prefer higher elevations, such as Covington Flats. The proliferation of these non-native grasses means ‘natural’ wildfires no longer occur. Park staff are hoping their vegetation clearance will act as a fuel break while also creating easier access for fire crews. “We will continue this work into the future, and try out other strategies as well,” said Frakes.
