PRESS RELEASE – For Immediate Release
March 15, 2011

Contact:
Nancy Karl
760-366-5440
nancy@mojavedesertlandtrust.org

MOJAVE DESERT LAND TRUST AWARDED “CONSERVATIONIST OF THE YEAR” BY THE WESTERN SECTION OF THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY

Joshua Tree, CA – Mojave Desert Land Trust was honored with the 2011 “Conservationist of the Year” award by the Western Section of The Wildlife Society on February 10, 2011. The award was presented at the Riverside Convention Center in Riverside, CA for the Land Trust’s conservation and stewardship programs. The land conservation programs have preserved more than 28,000 acres of wildlife habitat throughout the California desert.

The Wildlife Society (TWS), founded in 1937, is a professional, international non-profit, scientific and educational association dedicated to excellence in wildlife stewardship through science and education.
Their mission is to enhance the ability of wildlife professionals to conserve diversity, sustain productivity, and ensure responsible use of wildlife resources for the benefit of society.

Mojave Desert Land Trust was chosen to receive this prestigious award for its continuous work to protect the California desert’s ecosystems through land acquisition, restoration, and stewardship. Since 2006, the Land Trust’s inholdings acquisition program has acquired 520 parcels to date, the majority of those lands sited inside the boundaries of a desert national park (Death Valley, Joshua Tree or Mojave National Preserve) or within designated wilderness areas managed by the Bureau of Land Management throughout the desert. Acquisition of inholdings, followed by conveyance to the federal agency that manages the area, ensures the conservation values for wildlife and their habitats have a better chance to thrive. Once purchased by the Land Trust, they are preserved and monitored forever.

John Simpson, founding board member of the Land Trust, was present at the Wildlife Society’s awards banquet. Simpson was quoted, “To have our work be recognized by an international group of scientists is very encouraging.”

Nancy Karl, Executive Director of the Land Trust, said, “The Wildlife Society’s “Conservationist of the Year” award is a great honor for the Land Trust. Our work to protect intact ecosystems by acquiring inholdings is stitching together desert national park lands and wilderness areas parcel by parcel. It’s great to be acknowledged by such a prestigious organization.”

Rich Burg, chair of the nominations and awards committee for the Wildlife Society-Western Section added, “The Mojave Desert Land Trust has a long list of accomplishments in a short period of time. Their conservation work is especially vital with all the demands being placed upon the Mojave Desert ecosystem due to proposed renewable energy projects, mineral extractions, military training, and off-highway recreational uses among others. “

Mojave Desert Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) public charity based in Joshua Tree, CA whose mission is to preserve the desert’s ecosystems and its scenic and cultural resource values. For more information about the Land Trust, visit www.mojavedesertlandtrust.org or call 760-366-5440.

Armand Gonzalez, Past President of the Wildlife Society Western Section presents the Conservationist of the Year Award to Nancy Karl, Executive Director, and John Simpson, founding Board member of Mojave Desert Land Trust