Can a fire-ravaged forest of Joshua trees be restored?

In August 2020, the Dome Fire burned through more than 40,000 acres of Joshua tree forest on the Mojave National Preserve, leaving a graveyard of blackened trees. An estimated 1.3 million Joshua trees were lost.

But conservationists are determined to help repair this fragile ecosystem. As part of that undertaking, in December 2021, the US National Park Service, along with several volunteers, began an effort to plant thousands of Joshua tree seedlings. Interviews with NPS project organizers, volunteers and experts including botanist Bruce Baldwin of the University of California, Berkeley, highlight the Joshua tree’s ecological importance as well as the challenges to its recovery in the face of climate change.

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Produced By Tiên Nguyễn for Knowable Magazine

[ericfielding]

Well done documentary and inspiring to see how they are planting new Joshua trees. Would be interesting to see a follow up in a few years to see how many survived.

[palmplanet]

Great video and great job with the reforestation, I was so devastated when I read about the Dome Fire and saw the photos of all the dead Joshua trees, but this gives me hope for their future. I was fortunate enough to visit Joshua Tree National Park a few weeks back and see Joshua trees in their native habitat for the first time, and they were spectacular, and it gave me an understanding of their importance and the need to save them. Keep up the great work!

[jenk]

Beautiful and meaningful doc! I commend these peaceful warriors and the little trees for being so resilient. Devastating about the fires but glad to know good people are out there. How can I volunteer to help plant some trees?

[clipse]

Amazing work. I'd love to volunteer but I live on the other side of the country.

[dancingbear]

I am new to the area and would like to get involved in replanting. Who should I contact to join this effort?