Funding desert conservation will help achieve climate goals

[UngulateNerd92]

There is truly nothing like experiencing a desert oasis. My favorite such place in California is the Amargosa River, which flows intermittently for 185 miles from Nevada into eastern California.

On my last visit to the Amargosa in the Mojave Desert, I sat on the riverbank in awe of its healthy, thriving wetlands in the middle of this arid landscape. Once you spend time in one of California’s three deserts, you realize how diverse they are. From rugged watercourses to rolling dunes and towering peaks – our deserts contain some of our state’s most unique natural treasures.

I’m grateful to Assemblymember James Ramos, a Democrat from Rancho Cucamonga, who represents portions of Southern California’s Inland Empire, for championing the new Desert Conservation Program within the state’s Wildlife Conservation Board. Signed into law in September, this is a first-ever program aimed at providing state funding opportunities to help protect California’s deserts.

Funding desert conservation will help achieve climate goals

 

[UngulateNerd92]

Pardon the digression, but I used to live in Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino County, California with my dad for a period of time. My stepmom grew in Rancho Cucamonga as well. California's 40th state assembly district is solely within San Bernardino County and besides Rancho Cucamonga, also includes the cities of Highland, Loma Linda, Redlands, and more than half of San Bernardino proper. The district is Lean Democratic, with an average partisan voting index score of Democratic plus 7, so it is still competitive, but electoraly Democrats have a fair advantage there. But back on or near the main topic, I am grateful to see Assembly member James Ramos sponsoring this Desert Conservation Program! Ramos, a member of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians (Serrano aka
Taaqtam people native to the San Bernardino Mountains) was the first Indigenous Californian elected to the state Assembly. I wouldn't be surprised if his Native American heritage had a significant influence on his environmental policies, especially because of how Indigenous people's have valued environmental stewardship and sustainability for as long as they have. I am always fascinated by and grateful for indigenous led conservation and integration of modern/western science with indigenous knowledge.