Hilltop private parcel acquired in Joshua Tree National Park

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 12, 2018
Contact: Rich Weideman, Interim Executive Director, Mojave Desert Land Trust
Phone: (760) 820-2275
jessica@mdlt.org

Hilltop private parcel acquired in Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Tree, CA – Mojave Desert Land Trust has acquired 80 acres of pristine desert inside Joshua Tree National Park. The property helps piece together public land within the Park.

At an elevation of around 3,600 feet, the land has panoramic views and has been relatively untouched. The owner’s wish was for the property to eventually become public land. It has creosote, ephedra, saltbush and different types of cacti. It is accessible on foot around one mile from Pinkham Canyon Road.

Within the Park to date, Mojave Desert Land Trust has acquired 115 parcels totaling 7,972 acres (or double the size of LA’s Griffith Park). Around 75% of the parcels have been conveyed or transferred to the Park. Today, there are 192 additional privately-owned inholdings within Joshua Tree National Park.

MDLT acquires private land to protect the integrity of the ecosystem and enhance National Park Service management of natural resource values in the area. It also secures public access to public land.

“Our national parks protect the country's rich cultural and natural history. The existence of private land within national parks leaves the door open for inappropriate development which can impact these treasured areas. Our inholding program is a priority for MDLT. We are working to ensure public access and wildlife habitat is secure in Joshua Tree National Park.” – Rich Weideman, Interim Executive Director.

The Mojave Desert Land Trust (MDLT) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the mission to protect and care for lands with natural, scenic, and cultural value within the Mojave Desert. For more information, visit www.mdlt.org