Keystone Projects
Species are not declining because they forgot how to breed, eat, or otherwise secure what they need to survive. Species are declining because of human activity and our choices. As such, because people are the problem, people need to also be the solution.
Which is what we are doing here at The Living Desert. We’re leading more than 80 conservation initiatives, here is the deserts of Southern California and around the world.
Desert Tortoise Headstarting
Mongolian Conservation Initiative
Black Mambas Anti-Poaching Unit
BCCS Workshops & Training
Habitat Restoration
Within local desert ecosystems and beyond, endangered species and their habitats are being affected by climate change, human activity, and invasive species. The Living Desert is steadfastly working to re-establish healthy habitats through a holistic, multi-faceted approach that maintains and increases the number and diversity of native plants and animals.
Urban Habitat Restoration
Salt Creek Habitat Restoration
Community Engagement
We’re addressing the root causes of why species are declining through meaningful community engagement. By providing social science training to conservationists globally and collaborating with local businesses, community leaders, and youth, we foster a holistic approach that enhances human and wildlife co-existence, ensuring a brighter future for all.
Urban Habitat Restoration
Connecting People with Nature
Citizen Science Projects
At the Zoo
Conservation is a living practice at The Living Desert, where sustainable practices are not just promoted but actively implemented. Visitors can witness our commitment to conservation firsthand through various projects within the park, such as the headstarting of desert tortoise hatchlings, rearing of desert pupfish at Sonoran Pond, transforming waste into compost, and growing thousands of plants at the Desert Plant Conservation Center to restore natural areas across Southern California.
Stories from the Field
Findings and Benefits From Our Social Science Training Program
The Living Desert, partnered with Imvelo Safari Lodges, held a Building Community Conservation Success workshop with students from Lupane State University and the National University of Science and Technology in…
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Culture Informs and Enables Our Conservation Success
Respect makes everything possible. If someone were to come to our home and dictate, "This is what you must do with your home. Trust us, we know what we are…
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A Bold New Experiment in Social Science Training
Ensuring that Indigenous People and local communities (IPLC) not only participate in conservation but also lead or co-lead these efforts is crucial for ensuring that these projects are desired by…
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9-Year-Old Conservationist’s Goal of Saving The Desert Tortoise
After experiencing the wonders of desert wildlife on a field trip to The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, nine-year-old Leighton felt a calling to make a difference. It began when...
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