CALL TO ACTION - PROTECT THE WESTERN JOSHUA TREE
photo by Casey Keiran of Joshua Tree Workshops
Time is ticking and we need your help. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife has moved the hearing regarding the Center for Biological Diversity petition seeking the one year study to determine a threatened status under the California Endangered Species Act for the Western Joshua Tree Yucca brevifolia We are facing critical times because of Yucca Valley council who is in opposition and has written their own petition to not allow the study and now state assemblyman Chad Mayes has written a bill that would override fish and wildlife. So we need as much help in ensuring the protection of this endemic iconic species of the Mojave.
You can help by sharing, emailing your local state representatives (if you live in CA.) opposing AB 235, email fish and wildlife and the committee urging protection. (emails listed below) and join us Saturday July 25, 2020 5pm-7pm for our JOSHUA TREE NEED YOUR PROTECTION demonstration on the corner of Old Woman Springs Road and 29 Palms HWY in Yucca Valley.
STEPS TO HELP PROTECT THE WESTERN JOSHUA TREE
Link to the Center for Biological Diversity Petition
https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/plants/pdfs/CESA-petition-Western-Joshua-Tree-10-15-19.pdf
1) EMAIL CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH & GAME
Email: California Fish and Game Commission & influencers
with the subject
"RE: PLEASE HELP PROTECT OUR JOSHUA TREES"
Eric Sklar
President of California Fish and Wildlife @ fgc@fgc.ca.gov
Chad Dibble
Deputy Director Ecosystem Conservation Division @ chad.dibble@wildlife.ca.gov
Stafford Lehr
Deputy Director Wildlife and Fisheries Division @ stafford.lehr@wildlife.ca.gov
Wendy Bogdan
General Counsel Office of the General Counsel @ wendy.bogdan@wildlife.ca.gov
Isabel Baer
Native Plant Program Manager Habitat Conservation @ isabel.baer@wildlife.ca.gov
WHAT TO SAY
“I'm writing to urge you to protect western Joshua trees under the California Endangered Species Act as a threatened species. As you know, they face multiple threats to their survival, including climate change, wildfire, drought, invasive species and habitat loss. Outside the national park, other federal lands that are home to Joshua trees are subject to poorly regulated activities that consume or degrade habitat, including ORV use, cattle grazing, and large-scale energy projects/rights-of-way. While much of the western Joshua tree's range is on public lands, about 40% of its California range is still on private land, of which only a tiny fraction is protected from development. All this spells disaster if we don't act now.
We're in the middle of a climate and extinction crisis, and we simply can't afford to wait to protect species such as the western Joshua tree. Under current climate projections, they're likely to decline by upwards of 90% in the coming decades, while much of their habitat will be lost to development, absent strengthened protection under law. A California Endangered Species Act listing would support existing western Joshua tree populations, protect habitat, and mandate recovery actions for their survival.
1) I strongly urge the California Fish and Game Commission to accept the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's recommendation for advancing western Joshua trees to candidacy as a threatened species. Please move forward quickly to protect western Joshua trees knowing you have my full support “
2) Assembly Member Chad Mayes has advanced a bill that would rewrite the California Endangered Species Act to reduce local impacts from listing the tree. If you live in California write your local elected representatives and tell them you OPPOSE AB 235. http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/
3) Join the California Department of Fish & Wildlife meetings and attend the August 19 & 20 meeting, Yucca Valley City Council Meetings. (LINK TO follow for yv)
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