Protected Park
Joshua Tree National Park, CA
In 2001, National Park Trust supported the acquisition of an 80-acre property within Joshua Tree National Park. The land was an undeveloped section of the Mojave Desert surrounded by a mosaic of private and national parkland.
Project Details:
Project Years: 2001 – 2004
Parcel Size: 80 acres
Project Years: $11,300
Park Trust Role: Funder
Project Years: Donors
Overview
Many national parks are part of a mix of publicly owned land and inholdings (privately owned lands within the park’s boundaries). The Park Trust supplied funding to buy this property to support the National Park Service’s effort to consolidate undeveloped private land inside the park and reduce the mosaic of ownership. The purchase joined the property with national parkland, allowing the Park Service to better preserve and manage natural lands in the park.
Why This Place Matters
The ability to manage the whole landscape instead of scattered pieces of land benefits plant and animal communities within the park.
Significance of the Acquisition:
- Reducing the mosaic of public and private land allows for continuity of management and removes the possibility of development within the park.
- Visitors have a permanent scenic view of the desert.
- More land is available for public access.
