Land Stewards Wanted for Mojave Desert Land Trust
2007 Land Steward’s School
When: Saturday, October 27, arrive by 9 a.m.
Sunday, October 28, finish by 4 p.m.
Where: Black Rock Campground, Joshua Tree National Park
Fire station is general meeting area and location of Saturday night Bar-B-Que
Field exercises will be in the surrounding area
Overnight: If you are coming from outside the area there are several options for Saturday night including motels in YuccaValley and Joshua Tree. You can camp at the Black Rock Campground for $15 overnight per site which accommodates 2 vehicles and 6 people. Call 877- 444 - 6777 or go on line to www.recreation.gov to arrange for campsite reservations.
The Mojave Desert Land Trust currently owns more than 3500 acres in the California Desert National Parks - Joshua Tree, Death Valley, and The Mojave Preserve. These acres are being donated to the National Park Service under agreements which must be permanently monitored. Monitoring property is one of the most fundamental activities a land trust or natural resource management agency can perform.
Volunteers play a central role in the Land Trust’s ability to ensure that donated lands or fee lands are protected forever. Stewards are trained by professionals including National Park staff and will learn to:
Locate properties in the field using GPS units
Monitor properties including maintaining a written and photo log
Document threats
Help with on-the-ground restoration when needed
Document Long Term Change as part of the NPS data base on the effects of global warming
Document wildlife sightings for habitat modeling
Threats include:
Garbage dumping
Road problems
Illegal recreation development
Landscape alterations
Off-Road Vehicle use
Invasive plants
Interested?
If you are interested in doing meaningful work in our beautiful desert national parks and are able to walk 3 miles call the Mojave Desert Land Trust office at 877- 444 - 6777 or visit our Web site at www.mojavedesertlandtrust.org for a copy of the agenda, other information, and to sign up. The Training is free with a commitment of 3 visits per year (average 10 hours/visit). Although the course is free membership in the Mojave Desert Land Trust or another California land trust is required.
* Good physical condition means being able to walk 3 miles.
Source: Joshua Tree Chamber of Commerce
To read more about the desert, go to DesertUSA.com.