Irreplaceable: Wildlife in a Warming World

Feature:
Irreplaceable Wildlife in A Warming World
Graphic of irreplacable species, emperor penguin.
We are connected to each other, to our environment. From faraway places to our own backyard. But climate change is now changing the Earth as we know it, and animals and plants from the Arctic to the Everglades are feeling the consequences.
Key Resources:

Joshua Tree

According to the story, Joshua trees were named by pioneers crossing the Mojave Desert who thought the tree’s outstretched branches resembled the prophet Joshua waving them on to the promised land.
Photo Credit:
Tim Laman / ILCP (Part of Irreplaceable Wildlife Photo Exhibit)
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Joshua Tree

Scientific Name: 
Yucca brevifolia
IUCN Red List: 
Not Evaluated
Endangered Species Act List: 
No data

According to the story, Joshua trees were named by Mormon pioneers crossing the Mojave Desert who thought the trees’ outstretched branches resembled the prophet Joshua waving them on to the promised land. These striking trees are mostly confined to the Mojave Desert, where the oldest trees can live up to a thousand years! To survive in the desert environment, the Joshua tree uses its deep and extensive root system to reach what little water is available in the parched soil.

Climate Change Impacts

Unlike the Mormon pioneers who named it, the Joshua tree cannot pack up and migrate to a new home if its habitat becomes unsuitable. To expand to new locations, the Joshua tree depended on the giant sloth to disperse its seeds—an animal that unfortunately went extinct 13,000 years ago. These relic trees literally have nowhere to go if global warming renders the Mojave desert unsuitable for its survival.

Irreplaceable in Your Neighborhood

The Earthjustice traveling photo exhibit, Irreplaceable: Wildlife in a Warming World, is available to bring education, scholarship and research to your community. For more information on booking the exhibit, including fees, exhibit specifications, requirements and descriptions, please contact Nadine de Coteau at 1-800-584-6460.