California Wildlife Agency Unveils Plan to Protect Iconic Joshua Trees

Officials say the trees face ongoing threats from human activities, climate change, and wildland fire.

Joshua trees stand in Joshua Tree National Park near Twentynine Palms, Calif., on July 23, 2021. Sean Gallup/Getty Images

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has published a draft conservation plan aimed at preserving the state’s iconic Joshua trees amid ongoing threats from wildfires and human development.

The 294-page plan calls for avoiding or minimizing both direct and indirect impacts on the Joshua tree and its habitat caused by overgrazing, pesticide use, and unauthorized off-highway vehicle activity.