With extensive research support, the Inland Deserts Working Group (IDWG) that is connected with the California Natural Resources 30x30 planning process has produced Nature Based Solutions - Desert Sector, a report to the state recommending "conserving 100% of undisturbed non-military public lands annually based on current levels, starting in 2024." Two MBCA Board members on the IDWG believe that this document is a definitive report proving the high value of the undisturbed desert in achieving California's climate change goals. 

MBCA is among four regional conservation non-profits recommending together in this letter that the draft of the San Bernardino County Regional Conservation Investment Strategy be edited to meet statute requirements regarding quantifiable goals and gap analysis. In addition, MBCA along with Mojave Desert Land Trust, California Desert Coalition, and The Wildlands Conservancy suggest the use of the 2012 Morongo Basin Conservation Priorities Report to enrich the evaluative data for habitat value. 

Once again MBCA and many other concerned organizations have made an appeal to prevent the export of precious desert water by Cadiz, Inc. They have again requested permission from the Bureau of Land Management for right-of-way access to an existing pipeline. The letter signed by MBCA and 45 other groups summarizes the harm that would be caused and notes a previous denial of permission that had been granted under the Trump administration and requests another denial. (You can read a number of prior MBCA News posts about Cadiz by using our SEARCH function.)

MBCA has submitted a letter to the Wildlife Conservation Board of California's Desert Conservation Program in support of Mojave Desert Land Trust's effort to acquire and protect acreage in the Corridor Spring Site, a Morongo Basin location with water sources and documented wildlife corridor attributes.

Along with 61 other conservation non-profit groups, representing millions of members and supporters, MBCA signed on to a comprehensive comment letter on the Bureau of Land Management's proposal for revisions in land-use decision making. Much of the land in the Morongo Basin falls under the BLM jurisdiction, whose mission includes "multiple uses" that often impinge on environmental health, especially in the desert. The potential revisions place conservation "on equal footing with other consumptive multiple uses." The comment letter applauds the improvements but also points to numerous additional ways to strengthen the rule making. 

After several years of debate and temporary protection status in California, enactment of the state's budget agreement now provides the Western Joshua tree with permanent protection. A Press Release from the Center for Biological Diversity, which initiated the effort via a petition in 2020, provides history and current status details. Additional coverage of the issue, significant for the Morongo Basin, can by found at local radio station KCDZ-fm, the Hi Desert Star, and the Desert Sun. The section on Joshua trees is item #2 in the trailer bill, SB 122.

With 100 other non-profit conservation-related organizations, MBCA signed a letter to entreat Governor Newsom and 15 state legislators on the Senate and Assembly budget committees to eliminate from the budget a number of infrastructure trailer bills that should be enacted through the legislative process instead. The 8 trailer bills cited would, if enacted through the budget, eliminate public input and considered evaluation for "important and complicated policies."