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 in 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
United for the Desert: A Time to Give Thanks
As this season of gratitude approaches each year, we all pause to reflect on what we are most grateful for. At The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, we are incredibly...
Read Article
Vegetation Plot Sampling in Ikh Nart
By: Baltasar Pimentel, Collections Gardener The Living Desert and our partners the Mongolian Conservation Initiative are passionate about protecting and conserving all aspects of the Mongolian Steppe and Gobi Desert,...
Read Article
The Desert Ghost
By: Dr. Luis Ramirez Yanez, Curator of Conservation The Sonoran pronghorn, often called the “desert ghost,” is a rare and remarkable animal found in the hot, dry deserts of the...
Read Article
The Living Desert Supports Proposition 4
This November, you’ll have the opportunity to vote on Proposition 4, an initiative that allocates a $10 billion bond package in California for safe drinking water, wildfire prevention, and protecting...
Read Article