Saving the Mojave: A Journey of Love, Resilience, and Conservation
Bristol Mountains, Mojave Trails National Monument / photo by Jack Thompson
Stretching out beneath an endless sky, the Mojave Desert offers more than just a barren landscape — it’s a place of profound beauty, silence, and resilience. It’s a land that fosters introspection and where native species such as the desert tortoise and bighorn sheep exist in a delicate ecosystem. In an act of environmental heroism, out of a love for wilderness and its beauty, The Wildlands Conservancy stepped forward to protect this precious expanse.
From 1999 to 2004, Wildlands purchased 587,000 acres of fragmented land throughout the vast Mojave landscape that was destined for destruction and development, and donated them to the U.S. Department of the Interior for permanent conservation. This gift became the largest conservation land donation in U.S. history. But our work didn’t stop there. Working alongside the late U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein, our relentless advocacy for the Mojave desert spanning nearly two decades led to the creation of the 1.6 million-acre Mojave Trails National Monument and the Sand to Snow National Monument, providing a shield for these vast landscapes and the wildlife that call them home.
“The fate of the California desert was at a tipping point in the 1980s when development and uncontrolled off-road vehicle use threatened to fragment and destroy its biological and recreational treasures. Then came the California Desert Protection Act of 1994, a turning point for conservation, which paved the way for The Wildlands Conservancy to step in with bold vision and determination, securing nearly a thousand square miles of this irreplaceable landscape for future generations.
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At the heart of this movement today are dedicated individuals like Luke Basulto, California Desert program manager with the National Parks Conservation Association, a native of the Mojave Desert who has spent most of his life working in desert conservation. Luke saw his first desert tortoise at the age of nine, and from that moment, he knew his life’s purpose was to protect this remarkable creature and its fragile habitat. For Luke, conservation is about more than just preserving the land; it’s about reciprocity—giving back to the earth that nurtures us, and fostering relationships between people and nature.
“The key to saving a place like the Mojave,” Luke often says, “is getting people to fall in love with it.” Having spent the majority of his professional life as a field staffer for various organizations including The Wildlands Conservancy, Luke’s mission has been to interpret the desert landscape in ways that connect people to its beauty. He knows that if you can touch someone’s heart, you can inspire them to protect that place with the same passion he’s felt since childhood.
Through the work of The Wildlands Conservancy in protecting public access to the Mojave Desert, Luke and others have been able to create opportunities for discovery and connection. The more people experience the awe of the desert, the more curious they become, and the deeper their bond with the land grows. For Luke, this connection is vital — because when you care deeply enough, you’ll keep fighting, even when the future seems bleak.
Wildlands is more than an organization — it’s a community of like-minded individuals who share a love for the land and a commitment to its preservation. “Doing this work with a community makes all the difference,” Luke explains. “It keeps the momentum going and makes the journey that much more fulfilling.”
Knowing that the journey for desert protection is ongoing, Wildlands remains vigilant, monitoring and ensuring that all protections for the Mojave Desert guaranteed by the Department of the Interior are being fully upheld, safeguarding the desert’s future for all who cherish it.
Together, with passion, love, and determination, and with support from friends and partner organizations, The Wildlands Conservancy continues to boldly protect the Mojave Desert for future generations—proving that when enough hearts are touched by a place, anything is possible