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The western Joshua Tree’s long-term protected status under CESA remains ambiguous as the California Fish and Wildlife Game Commission delayed the vote for a second time to the February 2023 meeting.
The initial delay of voting on the issue was back in June when only 4 of the 5 commissioner chairs were filled. When asked if the vote delay would alter the Joshua Tree’s current status, California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Chuck Bonham provided some clarity –
“Just to remind each of our tribal partners, it (the western Joshua Tree) remains a protected species as a candidate under state law.”
The board said that public comments on the issue have been extensive, but public comments will remain closed with the exception of seeking more consultation and listening sessions from local tribes and tribal representatives and leaders.
The motion to delay the vote was unanimously approved by all 5 commissioners.
Breaking: The vote on whether the western Joshua Tree should be protected under CESA has been pushed to the February 2023 meeting. Public comments will remain closed, however a motion was passed to keep input from tribal leaders open.
California Department of Fish and Wildlife Director Chuck Bonham has stated that the western Joshua Tree will remain as a protected species under state law until the February meeting.
Previously reported:
At today’s (October 12, 2022) 9 a.m. meeting of the California Fish and Game Commission a decision is expected on whether to list the western Joshua tree on California’s threatened species list. The debate has festered for two years pitting developers, organized labor, and local municipalities against climate scientists, conservationists, and local tourism trades. As the commissioners pointed out at the June meeting, simply listing the western Joshua tree will not save it, only caps on the taking of trees, habitat management, and conservation efforts will give the species a fighting chance.
Today’s meeting picks up where the Commission’s June meeting left off. The June meeting concluded following comment from more than two hundred members of the public, but with a conspicuous lack of input from Native American tribal leadership and the absence of a range-wide conservation plan to help assure the species can survive threats posed by climate change, wildfire, and large-scale development. Expectations are that tribal input and a management plan presented tomorrow will lead to a vote.
The western Joshua tree is at the very top of Wednesday’s agenda but could move to later or even Thursday. New public input will not be heard. The meeting will take place in the Lake Tahoe area but will be livestreamed here: https://cal-span.org/meeting/cfg_20221012-20221013/live
Stay close to Z107.7 as we will report on this story as it develops.
