MBCA is happy to provide a new tool to the public --Google Earth Pro maps related to the Mojave Desert and California. These maps include light pollution, terrestrial corridors (wildlife corridors) and local groundwater basins, among other topics. Below you'll find instructions on how to use these maps. 

 

Instructions for Use

1.To use the map files, you must first install Google Earth Pro on your computer.

It is a free program that will work both on MAC and PC computers.

You may download the program here: https://www.google.com/earth/versions/#earth-pro

Please follow the prompts to install. After downloading the program, proceed to Step 2. 

2.   To use the files MBCA created, you must store (download) them on your computer. 

1. Go to our online folder to locate the map files. 

2. Download a map from the folder by right-clicking (control-click for Macs)on it, and selecting Download from the options. 

 

3. To view the downloaded files, launch Google Earth Pro.

1. From Google Earth Pro, select FILE>OPEN.

2. Navigate to the downloaded files in your folder and click OPEN.

3. This can be repeated for each file. 

4. To save the files in your version of Google Earth Pro, select YES when closing the application.

If you're wondering about the source files for these maps, here is an Excel/Google Sheets file with source information for each map. When locating geospatial data most of the time it comes in a professional GIS data format. These files have been converted and optimized for Google Earth Pro viewing. 

Here are image samples of many of the maps. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Desert Region including the Morongo Basin is critical to climate change challenges in California. “The California Desert’s Role in 30X30: Carbon Sequestration and Biodiversity” is a comprehensive explanation of the important 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.