Opinion: State should step in to protect Joshua trees
Our state is widely viewed as a climate leader, but California never has protected a single plant or animal under its endangered species law because of the threat of climate change. That could change today (Wednesday, June 15), when the state’s Fish and Game Commission is scheduled to decide whether to list western Joshua trees under the California Endangered Species Act. Commissioners could decide to safeguard Joshua trees, offering proof of California’s commitment to fighting climate change and ensuring that the iconic plant survives for future generations.
-Written by Brendan Cummings, conservation director at the Center for Biological Diversity.