The Mojave Desert occupies a large portion of southeastern California and extends into neighboring states. In all, the desert encompasses a region exceeding 25,000 square miles that includes Joshua Tree National Park. Within that vast expanse live hundreds of species specially adapted to the Mojave’s extreme arid environment.
The most prominent threat to Mojave desert habitats centers on urban sprawl as populations radiate out from major centers like Los Angeles. Moreover, population demands like landfill space represent a danger to the Mojave.
A nonprofit conservation group, the Mojave Desert Land Trust seeks to preserve this unique environment by purchasing land that acts as a buffer zone between the desert and human developments. For example, the trust recently purchased nearly 700 acres of land abutting Joshua Tree. Besides being a large buffer, the newly-acquired property makes for a suitable habitat for endemic tortoises.