by Laraine Turk
1393sc
on March 26, 2024
If expanded as planned, the
Easley Solar Project would surround the small Lake Tamarisk Community in Desert Center, negatively affecting every aspect of their lives including air quality, views, and wildlife passage. The community has offered alternative suggestions to the developers to allow them some relief and MBCA has sent
a letter in support of their plan. Read more in
this article in the
Coachella Valley Independent.
1 reaction
Share
by Laraine Turk
1393sc
on March 11, 2024
1 reaction
Share
by Laraine Turk
1393sc
on March 09, 2024
1 reaction
Share
by Laraine Turk
1393sc
on February 27, 2024
In a recent update to California’s Natural and Working Lands Climate Smart Strategy, a group of 22 organizations including MBCA have replied to the state’s request for comment with serious concerns about how desert lands are inappropriately classified as “Sparsely Vegetated Lands.” This inaccurate classification greatly reduces the carbon sequestration and other critical values gained by conserving desert lands in the state’s response to climate change. Our February 27 letter clearly states and scientifically corroborates four arguments for separating deserts from the “sparsely vegetated” designation. The letter was written by the Inland Desert Working Group (IDWG), which has been “the voice of the desert” in the ongoing state activities seeking to protect and conserve 30% of California’s lands by 2030. The IDWG also recently authored the comprehensive report The California Desert’s Role in 30X30: Carbon Sequestration and Biodiversity. The California Natural Resources Agency website also contains a great deal of background and links to videos about the Climate Smart Strategy.
1 reaction
Share
by Laraine Turk
1393sc
on February 27, 2024
1 reaction
Share
by Laraine Turk
1393sc
on February 09, 2024
About 80 people attended MBCA’s 55th Annual Meeting on February 3, 2024. Ten presentations covered topics focused on “Keeping It Local” and also addressing wider issues of desert preservation and government regulation.
Here is the Annual Meeting program, and below are brief summaries and links to PowerPoint presentations where available for each topic.
Read more
1 reaction
Share
by Laraine Turk
1393sc
on February 07, 2024
According to the grassroots group that fought the Wonder Inn for several years, the developers have retracted their appeal, so it appears that the ill-suited resort project in its current form has been stopped. Congratulations to the volunteers of the
Stop Wonder Inn organization! More details
here from radio station Z107.7.
1 reaction
Share
by Laraine Turk
1393sc
on February 07, 2024
The report, “The California Desert’s Role in 30X30: Carbon Sequestration and Biodiversity” presents a comprehensive explanation of the vital role the Desert Region plays in carbon sequestration and biodiversity as part of California’s goal of “conserving and protecting 30% of California’s lands and coastal waters by 2030.” The report’s recommendation is: “intact desert lands need to be left undisturbed.” MBCA is proud that Board members Pat Flanagan and Arch McCulloch were members of the team producing this critically important study.
1 reaction
Share
by Stephen Bardwell
339sc
on January 30, 2024
1 reaction
Share
by Laraine Turk
1393sc
on January 29, 2024
MBCA is among 109 organizational allies requesting that the state legislative bodies and the Governor protect and preserve the
California Environmental Quality Act.
The letter is presented in response to special interests seeking to scapegoat the Act as an impediment to progress in California, particularly in housing development. Within the letter are many examples of data proving the successes and value of the Act to environmental justice, climate change, preservation of species and ecosystems.
1 reaction
Share
