The Mojave National Preserve sent out a big thank you to the 114 volunteers that have been out planting baby Joshua Trees in the Cima Dome Burn Area during the fall months. According to the Mojave National Preserve’s social media, 798 Joshua Trees were planted in 133 different sites. They had some help from two camels – Herbie and Sully – who hauled water and plants to some more of the inaccessible areas.
The Cima Dome Joshua Tree forest is one of the most dense populations of Joshua Trees in the world, and in 2020 the Dome Fire burned over 70 square miles – or 43,000 acres of the Preserve.
Joshua Trees grow and spread slowly, so human help with seed gathering and seedling planting should help establish a population of Joshua Trees before the effects of climate change impact the sustainability of the area.
For more information on the Cima Dome visit the Mojave National Preserve’s website: https://www.nps.gov/moja/getinvolved/cima-dome-joshua-tree-forest-restoration.htm
