Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) was formed in 2005 by a small group of Morongo Basin residents who wanted to preserve the fragile ecosystems within the Mojave Desert. Today, MDLT has grown to become one of the most respected voices in the region on a wide range of land use issues, including habitat and wildlife linkage preservation, long-range planning and cooperative public-private initiatives.
MDLT's service area reaches from the southern boundary of Joshua Tree National Park to Death Valley National Park and east to the California/Nevada border. Within California, the Mojave region’s 20 million acres cover one-fifth of the state. Within that region are situated three national parks (Joshua Tree, Mojave National Preserve and Death Valley), five military installations, forty three BLM Wilderness areas and several major population centers.
Partnerships
The Land Trust is an influential partner with the government agencies that manage 80% of Mojave Desert lands. These include the National Park Service, the Department of Defense, the Bureau of Land Management, the US Fish & Wildlife Service, and the California Department of Fish & Game. MDLT also partners with other conservation organizations, municipalities, and water districts to achieve mutually beneficial conservation outcomes.
National Park Service (NPS)
Most of the 16,800 acres acquired by MDLT are within one of the three desert national parks (Mojave Preserve, Joshua Tree, Death Valley). To date, 3,235 acres have been conveyed to the NPS for long-term management. All properties conveyed to the NPS or the BLM are required to remain untouched in perpetuity.
The NPS has worked closely with the MDLT on its two capital campaigns to purchase lands adjacent to Joshua Tree National Park: Nolina Peak (639 acres conveyed to the Park in 2008), and the current Quail Mountain Project – 955 acres that contain some of the most important desert tortoise habitat in the region - a key component of the Morongo Basin Wildlife Linkage Design.
Department of Defense (DoD)
The Land Trust has partnered with the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC) in 29 Palms to conserve land under military airspace and to comply with environmental regulations of threatened and endangered species as Congress requires. MDLT and MCAGCC are currently partnering in a matching grant program- the Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (REPI) - toward the purchase of the Quail Mountain acreage. This parcel is important to the military both for airspace security and wildlife linkages.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
In 2009, the Land Trust established a partnership to acquire privately owned inholdings within 43 Wilderness areas managed by the BLM. MDLT will acquire parcels within Wilderness areas and convey them to the BLM for long-term management. This work protects an intact ecosystem from the threat of development of other incompatible uses to ensure wildlife remains healthy and scenic vistas can be enjoyed for generations to come.
Local Government
The Land Trust works closely with local government by lending its expertise on a variety of issues, including municipal planning, OHV use, protection of native plants and wildlife mitigation. Along with the NPS, BLM, DoD and local government and business representatives, the Land Trust is a member of the Morongo Basin Open Space Group, a public-private initiative to develop long-range planning guidelines that will preserve sensitive desert habitat as the region grows.
Community Involvement
The Land Trust now has more than 800 members, including local residents and desert lovers across North America. Members volunteer as Land Stewards for community clean-up and habitat restoration projects, educational outreach and fundraising. Our members contribute generously to MDLT's capital campaigns and programs.
