The Mojave Desert Land Trust released their 2021 Annual Report and announced some impressive numbers when it comes to desert conservation.
The Mojave Desert Land Trust’s mission is to protect the Mojave Desert ecosystem and preserve its dark night skies, clean air and water, broad views and vistas, and an abundance of native plants and animals.
According to their recently released annual report – the non-profit organization added over 4,000 acres to its land trust – reaching a 100,000 acre milestone of ecologically significant – and protected – California desert.
Last year the non-profit organization added over 4,000 acres to its land trust – reaching a 100,000 acre milestone of ecologically significant – and protected – California desert.
That includes 2600 acres in 66 different parcels that were conveyed to the National Park Service to stitch together more public lands.
800 acres of peaks and bajadas were acquired in the Trilobite Wilderness within Mojave Trails National Monument. This was one of the last privately-owned parcels in the Avawatz Mountains and is a home to a population of 150 bighorn sheep as well as a critical habitat for the threatened desert tortoise.
Alongside land acquisition – the MDLT also grew almost 9000 native plants in its nursery that were used in restoration projects like the Antelope Valley Resource Conservation District and Pioneertown Mountains Preserve.
The land trust also removed 31.5 tons of trash from MDLT protected lands- Sixty bags of trash and debris were removed from one Morongo Basin property alone – alongside larger land cleanup projects such as removing a decommissioned cell tower.
You can read a longer summary of the report, alongside a full-download, right here.
