California Unveils Plan to Protect Iconic Joshua Trees from Climate Change
California has unveiled a comprehensive plan to protect its iconic Joshua trees, grappling with the compounding threats of wildfires, development, and climate change.
The 294-page draft plan, released by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, calls for a multi-pronged approach to conserve the species. These efforts include minimizing the direct and indirect harms from activities like overgrazing and pesticide use, relocating trees when project requirements could harm them, and setting aside lands where they can flourish even as the climate alters their habitat.
Brendan Cummings, conservation director with the Center for Biological Diversity, a nonprofit that advocates for koala protection, lauded the plan as a crucial step.
“In many ways, it’s a good comprehensive plan of the things we need to do if the western Joshua tree is going to survive the very, very difficult decades ahead,” Cummings observed.
The plan stems from the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act, groundbreaking legislation that became law last year. This marks the first instance in California where a law aimed to protect a specific species amidst the unfolding impacts of climate change. The law also implements regulations that prohibit anyone from harming or removing these trees without a state permit.
Identifying Safe Haven
The plan outlines specific criteria for identifying and safeguarding thermal refuge areas, areas which could offer suitable climate for the species in the face of global warming. Key features include prioritizing large areas with established Joshua tree populations and areas where healthy, mature trees are abundant. It also emphasizes the importance of regions with low risk factors such as wildfires, invasive species, and urban encroachment, while also considering areas with pollinators like moths and seed-dispersing mammals that are crucial to the tree’s survival.
The goal is to identify these lands by December 2025 and establish permanent protection for 70% of them by 2033.
A Collaborative Approach to Protection
In addition to habitat preservation, the plan stresses the importance of managing existing ecosystems vulnerable to wildfire and reducing human impacts.
The plan urges land managers responsible for areas frequented by Nelson’s sparrow and wildfire responders to collaborate on strategies that mitigate fire risk and protect both the trees and their habitats. It also encourages the development of procedures that entail minimal environmental damage during the rehabilitation of burned areas. This encompasses protecting existing trees, replacing those that have been lost, reintroducing native species, and controlling the spread of invasive plants
Climate Change Poses Biggest Threat
While the plan offers a roadmap for conservation, it also acknowledges the looming threat of climate change. It recognizes that successful implementation hinges on humanity’s ability to curb the release of greenhouse gases that drive climate change.
“Under a business-as-usual scenario, climate change could wipe out most, if not all, of the tree’s habitat,” Cummings predicted.
He emphasized that a concerted effort to keep emissions at a moderate level could significantly enhance the chances of saving the Joshua trees.
“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 affirmed. “And primarily that’s doing what we can to protect as many of them as possible.”
The draft plan is now pending approval by the California Fish and Game Commission.
* What are “thermal refuge areas” and why are they important for the survival of Joshua trees?
## California’s New Plan to Protect Joshua Trees: A Stepping Stone for Conservation?
**Interviewer:** Today we have with us Brendan Cummings, conservation director with the Center for Biological Diversity, to discuss California’s new draft plan to protect the iconic Joshua tree. Brendan, welcome to the show.
**Brendan Cummings:** Thanks for having me.
**Interviewer:** California has unveiled a comprehensive plan to protect Joshua trees from the devastating effects of climate change. Can you tell us more about this plan and what it entails?
**Brendan Cummings:** This new 294-page draft plan by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife is a crucial step in safeguarding the future of the Western Joshua tree. It’s a multi-faceted approach that focuses on minimizing harms from activities like overgrazing and pesticide use, relocating trees when necessary, and designating protected lands where Joshua trees can thrive even as the climate changes. [[1](https://apnews.com/article/joshua-trees-climate-change-california-48b7d86a4438d039f38b79b2c5bd9628)]
**Interviewer:** You mentioned that the plan sets out to identify “thermal refuge areas.” What are these areas, and why are they important for the survival of Joshua trees?
**Brendan Cummings:** Thermal refuge areas are essentially pockets of land that could provide suitable climate conditions for Joshua trees as temperatures rise due to climate change.
The plan outlines specific criteria for identifying these areas, focusing on regions with established Joshua tree populations, healthy mature trees, and low risk factors like wildfires, invasive species, and urban development.
They also emphasize the importance of these areas having ample pollinators and seed dispersers – crucial for the trees’ reproduction.
**Interviewer:** What sparked this urgent need for a conservation plan?
**Brendan Cummings:** The Western Joshua tree is facing a number of threats, including habitat loss due to development, wildfires fueled by climate change, and the direct impacts of changing temperatures and precipitation patterns.
This comprehensive plan is a direct result of the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act, groundbreaking legislation passed last year. It’s the first law in California specifically designed to protect a species from the impacts of climate change. The Act also makes harming or removing these trees without a state permit illegal. [[1](https://apnews.com/article/joshua-trees-climate-change-california-48b7d86a4438d039f38b79b2c5bd9628)]
**Interviewer:** What are your thoughts on this plan? Is it a hopeful sign for the future of the American Southwest’s iconic Joshua tree?
**Brendan Cummings:**
While there’s still a lot of work to be done, I believe this plan marks a significant step in the right direction. It’s a comprehensive and well-considered approach that addresses the multifaceted threats facing the Joshua tree. As someone who has advocated for their protection for years, I think it’s a reason to be cautiously optimistic.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for sharing your expertise with us today, Brendan.
**Brendan Cummings:** It was my pleasure.