Mojave Desert Land Trust

06/01/2026

Thank you PBS SoCal for joining our plant conservation team in the field and seed lab to learn why we're out here protecting the desert's biodiversity! Watch us here:

California is racing to protect its most critical ecosystems from the long-range impact of climate change and other human activity. In the state’s vast deser...

05/29/2026

“This highway runs between two really important protected areas for wildlife, Joshua Tree to the east and Sand to Snow National Monument to the west,” says Kelly Herbinson, Executive Director for the Mojave Desert Land Trust. “It’s essentially fragmenting the habitat, effectively keeping species like bighorn sheep, deer, black bear and mountain lions from being able to move from one area to another. Humans need wildlife to survive. I see that so clearly, and it’s my mission in life. It’s wonderful to have tangible projects like a wildlife crossing that give us an opportunity to talk about it.”

Thanks to Marc Sternfield at KTLA 5 News for interviewing Executive Director Kelly Herbinson about the need for desert wildlife crossings to support habitat connectivity. Thank you to Caroline Petrow-Cohen for highlighting this work in Los Angeles Times.

Catch up on the latest coverage of this project: www.mdlt.org/newsroom

05/28/2026

Discover the denizens of the Mojave’s slithering underbelly in For Goodness Snakes! This free, self-paced virtual course runs from June 29-July 3. Registrants will receive one email per day (5 total) with tips on how to identify local species, understand their vital role in our ecosystem, and safely coexist with them in the wild. Plus, we’ll share resources to find out more about species outside of the Mojave, and offer a chance to test your knowledge at the end with a quiz. Sign up by June 26: https://secure.everyaction.com/Q0VdQvAU-kuYG2oWW9Wq_Q2

05/27/2026

Thanks to a $512,000 grant from Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy, two much-needed wildlife crossings in the California desert have received even more much-needed support. Read our joint press release: https://www.mdlt.org/press-releases/regional-support-grows-for-desert-wildlife-crossings-with-new-funding-injection

Video: Jessica Graybill
Audio: Khruangbin X Hermanos Gutierrez

05/26/2026

Last week MDLT's Public Policy Officer Krystian Lahage joined regional partners for Power in Nature's Sacramento Advocacy Day. Power In Nature is a statewide coalition of over 300 organizations across California working to advance the state's objective to protect 30% of California's lands and waters by 2030. Our team met with local state representatives, including the offices of Assemblymembers Greg Wallis, James Ramos (pictured), and Juan Carrillo, and Senators Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh and Eloise Gómez Reyes.

The team engaged representatives on topics including Proposition 4 conservation funding distribution, ensuring adequate funding at the California Natural Resources Agency, and an array of projects that could help advance 30x30 in the deserts. Representatives on both sides of the aisle showed a great appreciation for California's outdoor spaces and understanding of the issues currently facing them. Thank you to our public lands champions!

05/25/2026

To those who served and gave their life in the line of duty, and to those who hold their memory, we recognize you this Memorial Day. Thank you for your service.

Photo by Ella DeMaria

05/23/2026

Our WISDOM interns (Women In Science Discovering Our Mojave) have been working for years now conducting the rigorous sky quality research that supports Mojave Trails National Monument’s path toward a Dark Sky Sanctuary designation through the International Dark Sky Association. That designation would mean formal, lasting protection for a night sky that countless desert species depend on, as light pollution is a serious threat to wildlife in the desert. Want to support this groundbreaking research and the amazing women in the field?

Make a tax-deductible donation to MDLT today and help us protect the dark desert skies! https://secure.everyaction.com/8rMZG9iHKkmsWcobUSLjbw2?utm_source=social&utm_medium=media&utm_campaign=WISDOM2026

05/22/2026

In this issue: The rescission of the Public Lands Rule, a newly-approved solar project impacting wildlife corridors for sensitive species, and ongoing budget reconciliation debates.

MDLT’s Policy Wrap-Up newsletter dives into the top policy and legislative news facing the California desert and shares actions you can take to protect the places we love. Sign up: www.mdlt.org/newsletter

05/21/2026

Do you have the need for seed? The Mojave Desert Land Trust is seeking to fill two positions in our Mojave Desert Seed Bank; a Seed Bank Field Supervisor and a Seed Bank Technician. These are hands-on positions for someone who enjoys working outdoors, is interested in native plants, and wants to contribute directly to desert conservation. Through seed scouting, collection, processing, and data collection, you will help grow a future solution against climate change.

These are full-time, grant-funded term positions of approximately 9 months. Interested to learn more? Visit mdlt.org/employment

05/20/2026

Bee the change you wish to see in the world! World Bee Day has us buzzing with excitement about the plentitude of pollinators populating our state. With more than 1600 species of native bees in California, over 750 of those species occur only in California's deserts. We need bees to keep the desert flora flourishing. Want to learn more about our resident pollinators? Check out our blog post: https://www.mdlt.org/blog/know-your-desert-pollinators-and-the-plants-they-rely-on

Photos by Kyra Santa Cruz and Zoe Dagan