New legislation provides stronger protections for Joshua trees

The Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act is providing the iconic trees with more legal protections. 

The law, which went into effect on July 1., allows Joshua trees to remain a candidate species under the California Endangered Species Act.

The Center for Biological Diversity originally filed a petition for Joshua trees to be protected under the Endangered Species Act in 2020. However, in 2022 the Department of Fish and Wildlife decided against the permanent protection of the species, which made the Center for Biological Diversity push for further legislation.

Brendan Cummings, the Conservation Director of the Center for Biological Diversity, was apart of the team that sought out further protections for the tree.

“If you visit Joshua Tree National Park and just look at the beautiful Joshua trees, it's easy to think they're doing great. There's lots of the adult trees that mostly look healthy. But if you look a little more closely, you'll notice what's missing. There aren't that many young trees," said Cummings.

Cummings says that climate change is affecting the rate of growth of the species both inside and outside of Joshua Tree National Park.

Joshua trees on private land are also at risk of unpermitted killing and removal for the purpose of land development.

“The popularity of the Joshua Tree is part of the threat to their existence. People were cutting down Joshua trees to build an Airbnbs and advertise it as, "Come see Joshua trees, even though you're staying in essentially the graveyard of Joshua trees."

The Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act is now providing the following protections:

• Prohibition of the unpermitted killing or removal of Joshua trees.
• Stricter permitting process for developers looking to build on land near Joshua trees. 
• Creation of a fund to acquire and manage land to protect the trees. 
• Regular review of the status of the species. 
• Regular consultation with California Native American Tribes on the law's implementation. 

The new act will also require the Department of Fish and Wildlife to implement a conservation plan for the species by 2024. 

Cummings hopes this new law will give people a clearer framework of how to protect the species.

“If we want to ensure that the species survives the very difficult decades ahead, we have to do everything we can to ensure as many Joshua trees as many areas with Joshua trees persist, so that they have the best chance of surviving," said Cummings.