Government Agencies, Tribes, and the Public Collaborate to Create the Plan

Western Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) is an iconic plant species with substantial ecological and cultural importance in California. The major threats to western Joshua tree include human activities, climate change, and wildland fire. The combined threats to western Joshua tree, coupled with the species’ biology and specific habitat requirements, are causes for substantial concern about the ability of the western Joshua tree population to persist in California long term. Without some level of direct management, the future of the species will largely depend on its ability to withstand continued habitat loss and to adapt to the hotter and drier conditions that are expected due to climate change. 

The California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) designated the western Joshua tree as a candidate for listing as a threatened species under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) in September 2020. In addition, the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act (Act) was passed and signed into law in July 2023 to conserve western Joshua tree and its habitat. The Act requires multiple actions by the Commission and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW), which include the development and implementation of a Western Joshua Tree Conservation Plan (Conservation Plan) in collaboration with the Commission, governmental agencies, California Native American Tribes, and the public. CDFW developed the Conservation Plan based on the best available information, consisting of “credible science” as defined in California Fish and Game Code Section 33, including Traditional Ecological Knowledge.

Conservation Plan Vision, Purpose, and Objectives

The vision of the Conservation Plan is to prevent the extinction of western Joshua tree in the wild, preserve functioning ecosystems that support the species, and maintain sustainable populations of western Joshua tree in California over the long term, such that listing the species under CESA will not be warranted. The Conservation Plan’s purpose is to fulfill the requirements articulated in Fish and Game Code Section 1927.6 and guide the conservation of western Joshua tree in California by focusing on the most urgent and important management actions. The following objectives of the Conservation Plan are identified in the Act:

• Describe management actions necessary to conserve western Joshua tree and objective, measurable criteria to assess the effectiveness of such actions 
• Provide guidance for the avoidance and minimization of impacts to western Joshua trees 
• Include protocols for the successful relocation of western Joshua trees and provide for the relocation of western Joshua trees to Tribal lands upon a request from a Tribe  
• Include co-management principles and incorporate Traditional Ecological Knowledge into the Conservation Plan  
• Prioritize actions and acquire and manage lands that are identified as appropriate for western Joshua tree conservation  

Voluntary Actions for Western Joshua Tree Conservation

The management actions outlined in the plan are voluntary and do not establish new regulatory protections. The Conservation Plan provides guidelines for western Joshua tree conservation, criteria to help define effectiveness of management actions and monitoring of management outcomes, and a process of adaptive management to refine and improve the management actions over time. The management actions are guidelines for conservation, while the criteria help define the effectiveness of the actions. These management actions do not create new statutory or regulatory mandates. Management actions in the Conservation Plan are in five categories:

1. Impact avoidance and minimization to lessen negative effects of human activities 
2. Land conservation and management to protect existing populations and restore degraded habitat 
3. Tribal co-management that reflects California Native American Tribes’ interests and priorities and returns traditional cultural practices back to the land 
4. Research to inform long-term conservation and improve decision-making 
5. Education and awareness to increase support and foster public ownership in the conservation of the species 

The management actions can be incorporated into project approvals by local, state, and federal governmental agencies that authorize projects or resource management programs in the western Joshua tree’s California range. Researchers can implement management actions related to research, and private citizens and other organizations can implement actions related to education and awareness. They can be voluntarily adopted and implemented by project proponents, land managers, and philanthropists to help the species or to prevent the species from being harmed. California Native American Tribes and the State can work together to co-manage conservation consistent with the Conservation Plan’s guidance.  

Tribal Engagement and Co-Management

Collaboration with Tribes and inclusion of Tribal co-management principles are critical aspects of the Conservation Plan. The Conservation Plan contains an overview of traditional uses of western Joshua tree, as well as collective experiences and knowledge, known as Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), related to western Joshua tree. TEK shared by Tribes influenced management actions in the Conservation Plan and informed specific standards for co-management of the species. The management actions in the Conservation Plan establish the framework needed to guide the ongoing development, incorporation, and implementation of co‑management functions and responsibilities. Meaningful co‑management requires time beyond the initial publication and approval of the Conservation Plan. CDFW is committed to maintaining a high level of collaboration with the Tribes during the implementation and subsequent updates of the Conservation Plan.

Desired Conservation Outcomes

Desired outcomes of the Conservation Plan include the following, which are some of the effectiveness criteria of the plan in Chapter 5: 

• By 2033, when the Commission must reconsider whether listing western Joshua tree is warranted, a large and genetically representative distribution of western Joshua tree is permanently protected and managed to maximize ecological function for the species and its co‑occurring native species. 
• A program to monitor and assess western Joshua tree population status based on science has been developed and adopted. 
• Cooperative multiagency strategies are in place to reduce fire risk, aggressively fight wildland fires that threaten western Joshua trees, and fully fund restoration plans that will be implemented in response to wildland fires that kill a demographically significant number of western Joshua trees. 
• Ninety percent of land within predicted climate refugia for western Joshua tree that is identified as ecologically core, ecologically intact, or moderately degraded is permanently protected and managed to maximize ecological function for the species and its co‑occurring native species [concepts in this bullet are reviewed in Chapter 4]. 

Adaptive Management Approach 

To be effective, the Conservation Plan must be able to address near-term threats to the species and preserve existing western Joshua trees and their habitat on a site-specific scale while gathering the additional information needed to enact range-wide conservation in the long term. To achieve this goal, the Conservation Plan is designed to be implemented in an adaptive management framework within the broader context of the Act. An adaptive management framework provides a structured process that allows implementing management actions, closely monitoring and evaluating outcomes, and reevaluating and adjusting decisions as more information is learned. The framework for western Joshua tree conservation has five conceptual phases:

1. Prepare the Draft Plan – completed December 2024 
2. Public Review and Plan Approval – completed August 2025 
3. Implement the Conservation Plan – current phase 
4. Evaluate the Plan Results – starting in 2026 
5. Share the Results and Adjust Plan Components – starting in 2026 

In accordance with the Act, starting in 2026 and at least every two years thereafter, the Commission will review the effectiveness of the Conservation Plan in conserving the species. CDFW will make recommendations to the Commission concurrent with the Commission’s review of the status of western Joshua tree. As part of this review, CDFW will recommend proposed amendments to the Conservation Plan, if needed. Any Conservation Plan amendments must be reviewed and adopted by the Commission. New information from ongoing research, monitoring, and other sources will become available over time, and adjustments will be required to keep the Conservation Plan up to date. Data will be collected at various scales, from site-specific to range-wide in California. The Conservation Plan anticipates that CDFW, in collaboration with Tribes, governmental agencies, and other entities, will continue to monitor the outcomes of management actions and will adjust future actions accordingly. CDFW will also continue to seek input from the general public regarding implementation of the Conservation Plan and its effectiveness in conserving western Joshua tree.

Western Joshua Tree Take Permitting  

While the Conservation Plan does not establish new regulatory requirements, the Act established two permitting processes for take of western Joshua tree: incidental take permits and hazard management permits. Permits authorizing take of western Joshua trees may also be sought under previously established laws (e.g., CESA or Natural Community Conservation Planning Act).

In addition, the Act requires CDFW to adopt guidelines and relocation protocols, based on the best available science, to relocate western Joshua trees successfully. During development of these guidelines and protocols, CDFW was required to consult with desert native plant specialists. The Western Joshua Tree Relocation Guidelines and Protocols document is reviewed by CDFW and will be periodically updated separately from the Conservation Plan.

Conclusion

The Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act represents an innovative and comprehensive approach in protecting one of California’s most iconic and imperiled desert species. The Act has multiple requirements, including development of the Conservation Plan and Relocation Guidelines and Protocols, and implementation of the western Joshua tree permitting system. For more information, please see CDFW’s Frequently Asked Questions, or contact CDFW at vog.ac.efildliw@TJW.