Karmactive Staff
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has released a 294-page draft conservation plan to protect Joshua trees from extinction, marking the state’s first-ever initiative to shield a species specifically from climate change impacts.
“I’m grateful the Newsom administration and lawmakers agree that western Joshua trees are an irreplaceable part of California’s natural heritage that has to be protected,” states Brendan Cummings, conservation director at the Center for Biological Diversity, which petitioned in 2019 to list the western Joshua tree as threatened under California’s Endangered Species Act.
The Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act requires concrete action. The plan sets explicit deadlines:
- Identification of priority conservation areas by December 2025
- Permanent protection of 70% of these areas by 2033
The plan outlines specific actions to counter immediate threats:
- Strict control of overgrazing in Joshua tree habitats
- Regulations on pesticide use near tree populations
- Prevention of unauthorized off-road vehicle access
- Systematic procedures for tree relocation when threatened by development
- Implementation of wildfire prevention and response protocols
The plan acknowledges a stark reality: without substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, Joshua trees could lose most or all of their natural habitat. “Assuming we can keep to a mid-level emissions trajectory, we have a very good chance of saving the species if all the things outlined in this plan are carried out,” Cummings explains.
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The plan employs specific criteria to identify priority conservation areas:
- Areas with large Joshua tree populations
- Regions with high density of healthy and adult trees
- Locations with low risk of fires and invasive species
- Areas with pollinators like moths and small mammal seed dispersers
The act prohibits:
- Killing Joshua trees
- Damaging existing specimens
- Removing trees without state permits
The draft plan awaits approval from the California Fish and Game Commission. Its implementation will require coordination between state agencies, land managers, and wildfire responders to create effective protection measures.
