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Our Advocacy Efforts
Protect California Deserts
About the coalition:
The Protect California Deserts is a coalition of local organizations that, along with regional and national organizations, are working on this historic opportunity to designate the Chuckwalla National Monument and expand Joshua Tree National Park. This will help ensure access to nature for local residents and visitors, protect unique biodiversity, safeguard the desert’s rich history, and honor the cultural landscape of the Iviatim, Nüwü, Pipa Aha Macav, Kwatsáan and Maara’yam peoples.
Our role in the coalition:
We are one of the local organizations that are part of the Protect California Deserts coalition. Our role in the coalition is to provide on-the-ground knowledge and local expertise for the campaign. We work closely with other local partners to organize various outreach efforts, such as hikes, camping trips, and land and aerial tours. Our staff members also provide translation support to ensure that information is accessible to our Spanish-speaking community members. Both of our Coachella Conservation Program staff members actively participate in the coalition, with our Conservation Program Manager serving as a steering committee member.
30x30 Inland Deserts Regional Group – Power In Nature Coalition
About the coalition and the 30x30 Initiative:
Governor Newsom's Executive Order N-82-20 launched California's 30x30 effort on October 7, 2020. #30x30CA is a community-driven initiative to protect 30% of California's lands and waters by 2030. The Executive Order instructed the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) to work with other State agencies and stakeholders to implement the 30x30 plan. As such, CNRA created a strategy document called Pathways to 30x30 by February 2022 to achieve this goal. Throughout this process CNRA gathers expert opinions and hosted workshops open to the public, in which the various stakeholders and coalition partners participated to help highlight our deserts.
Protecting California's deserts is critical to the state's past, present, and future. As some of the most geographically vast and ecologically diverse areas of California, they are part of the most intact ecosystem in the lower 48 states and are incredibly valuable to plants, wildlife, and people. Protecting California's deserts is essential to the success of our efforts to address the climate and biodiversity crisis, protecting 30% of lands and waters by 2030.
Our role in the coalition:
Early on, one of the coalition's main challenges was ensuring that CNRA would properly include California's deserts and consider them in achieving the 30x30 goals. The coalition has and continues to advocate for our deserts so that they are correctly described and characterized to represent their true 30x30 value and rich biodiversity.
Our Conservation Program Manager, Sendy, has been an active coalition member since 2021. Over the years, she has helped build a relationship between CNRA and the various partner organizations that are coalition members. Additionally, she advocated for better language accessibility since the reports were previously only available in English. Furthermore, the coalition elected our Conservation Program Manager to co-lead the regional group from April 2022 to February 2024.
Programs and Events
Nuestro Desierto Program - CactusToCloud Institute & COFEM
In October 2021, COFEM and our partner, CactusToCloud Institute, applied for the highly competitive Outdoor Equity Grant Program from the California Department of Parks and Recreation. The California State Parks & Recreation received 384 applications, and only 125 were approved. We are thrilled to announce that we are one of the lucky 125 applicants.
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Ideal applicants for the Nuestro Desierto Program are young adults 18-24 intending to pursue their education after high school, supplement college coursework, and/or seek early career development. Preference may be given to individuals from low-income or mixed-immigration status households in and near the City of Coachella. Listed below is a sneak peek of what you can expect!
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UC Naturalist Course + college credits
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Visits to some of the most iconic CA National Parks
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Exclusive visits to local UCR Research Centers
Here are some important dates to remember and links to register for the information sessions, where you can learn more about the program and apply to be part of the 2024 Nuestro Desierto Class. Don't miss out, space is limited to 20 students.
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May 09 at 6 PM Information session plus Q&A via Zoom
May 18 at 2 PM Information session plus Q&A in person at the Coachella Library
May 24 Application deadline
June 01 First day of class
This program funded by the Outdoor Equity Grants Program, created through AB 209 and administered by California State Parks, Office of Grants and Local Services.
Nature’s Niños Program
The Wildlands Conservancy & COFEM
Nature's Ninos is a free family camping and educational program aimed at introducing elementary school-age children and their families to camping. The camping trips take place on a yearly basis and are hosted at the Whitewater Preserve.
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​​​​Some of past programs also include the Public Lands Defenders workshops series. This educational workshop series was focused on helping our community members learn more about their public lands and national monuments. They were offered twice a year in English and Spanish.
Our Events
Our Conservation program aims to provide our community with various in-person and virtual events free of charge. The events available vary; some of our past events are listed below. Be the first to know about our upcoming events by following us on social media or joining our mailing list HERE.
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Camping trips to
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Corn Springs
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Mecca Hills
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UC James San Jacinto Mountain Reserve
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Hiking trips to
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Chuckwalla Dune Ticket
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Chuckwalla Mountains
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Joshua Tree National Park
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Mecca Hills - Sunset hikes and Wildflower walks
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Joshua Tree National Park
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Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monuments
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Whitewater River
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Latino Conservation Week Events
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Family Day at Mount San Jacinto State Park
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Latinx Voices in Nature (online)
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Stargazing Hike with Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz in the Mecca Hills Wilderness area.
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