Federal court rules against attempt to withhold Endangered Species Act protections from Joshua tree
The Central District of California ruled on Monday that the FWS decision to not provide ESA protections for the Joshua tree is unlawful and sidesteps climate science.
MORE: Extra moisture on West Coast allowing climate-sensitive Joshua trees to recover: Experts
Known for its twisted stalks and unusual outline, the Joshua tree is native to the arid southwestern U.S. and thrives in harsh desert environments.
In 2015, WildEarth Guardians, an environmental nonprofit group, petitioned the FWS to list Joshua trees as a threatened species, but a second 2023 species status assessment by the FWS found that neither Joshua tree species -- Yucca brevifolia and Yucca jaegeriana -- requires protections.
The FWS said it looked at threats from wildfire, invasive grasses, climate change and habitat loss and fragmentation. It found that none of the threats rose to the level to meet the definition of a threatened or endangered species throughout all or a significant portion of their ranges, according to the assessment.
"Through our scientific assessment, the Service determined that Joshua trees will remain an iconic presence on the landscape into the future. Although the two species do not need the protections of the Endangered Species Act, the Service cares deeply about Joshua trees and their roles in the desert environment," said Service Pacific Southwest Regional Director Paul Souza in a statement in 2023.
"We are coordinating closely with partners to ensure the long-term conservation of these species, including the National Park Service and other Federal agencies, and the State of California, which is also considering measures for the protection of Joshua trees."
However, multiple studies have shown that shifts in climate in the Mojave Desert is a major contributor to weather events that threaten Joshua trees, including wildfires.
"The agency's decision, for a second time, reflected a massive disconnect from what the best available science shows -- that climate change and wildfire will prevent Joshua trees from successfully recruiting new generations over the coming years,' Jennifer Schwartz, managing attorney for WildEarth Guardians, said in a statement sent to ABC News.
MORE: Human skeletal remains found just off trail in Joshua Tree National Park
After the FWS analysis was released, WildEarth Guardians sued the FWS "for its failure to follow federal law" in denying protections for the Joshua tree.
The Central District of California ruled in favor of the environmental nonprofit's claims, writing in the decision "that the Service has not provided a rational explanation as to why climate change alone does not threaten the species to become threatened or endangered."
"The Service provides no explanation as to why it did not use current trends and standards regarding greenhouse gas emissions as a basis for its decision, when this data currently is available," the decision states.
The court also noted that when assessing the "foreseeable future" of the Joshua tree, the FWS only looked to the middle of the 21st century, while the end of the 21st century is the commonly used timeline for most scientific assessments.
"It is essential that the Service considers climate change's effect on habitat suitability in relation to young Joshua trees, and not just the persistence of stronger, adult Joshua trees," the order states.
MORE: This is how climate change may alter 10 of the world's natural wonders
The federal court has instructed the FWS to reconsider whether the Joshua tree should receive ESA protections with more scientific analysis.
The ruling "serves as yet another reminder that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must completely grapple with the ongoing and incoming threats from human-created climate change," Casey Bage, legal fellow for WildEarth Guardians, said in a statement sent to ABC News.
Bage noted that the science "is clear" in this case.
"We must face these facts head-on in order to protect Joshua trees -- and other species -- to give them the fighting chance that they deserve," Bage said.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment.
Federal court rules against attempt to withhold Endangered Species Act protections from Joshua tree originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
5 days ago
- Washington Post
4 people die in crash of medical transport plane on Navajo Nation in northern Arizona
A small medical transport plane crashed and caught fire Tuesday on the Navajo Nation in northern Arizona, killing four people, the tribe said in a statement. A Beechcraft King Air 300 from the CSI Aviation company left Albuquerque, New Mexico, with two pilots and two health care providers, according to the Federal Aviation Administration and CSI Aviation. It crashed in the early afternoon near the airport in Chinle, about 300 miles (483 kilometers) northeast of Phoenix.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Distinguished firefighter retires after four decades of life-saving service
A firefighter from Wiltshire is retiring from the service after over four decades of service. Neil Chamberlain, who has worked for the service in Swindon and Westlea celebrated his retirement along with the Dorset & Wiltshire Fire Service on August 1. He was a part of the service for 41 years after he first joined the London Fire Brigade in 1984, being stationed in Kingston. In 1987, he joined Wiltshire Fire Brigade first being stationed at Swindon then transferring to Westlea. Neil worked his way through the ranks from firefighter to leading firefighter then Sub Officer. In 2014, Neil retired from operational duties, taking up important roles including Home Safety Manager and Business Fire Safety Inspector, which was his role upon retirement. Neil, who is 65 and lives in Purton, spoke about his time with the fire service, he said: "It is a fantastic job to do serving the community and not many people get the chance to do it, so it is a sought-after job. "I always wanted to be a firefighter since I was boy, it was a dream. A fire engine came to visit my school one day and I realised that is what I wanted to do. "Since retiring from operations in 2014, I had the opportunity to run cadets courses. The operational time was so fantastic and there was always a lot of adrenaline, especially in the early days when you were still getting used to the call-outs." Recommended reading Swindon art royalty to open studio doors to public Childhood sweethearts are first to be married in renovated Swindon venue Pharmacy technician speaks out about the importance of working alongside doctors Now being 65, Neil has decided it is time to hang the safety gear up and focus on the future. His retirement plans include joining the local bowls team, learning the guitar again and being able to spend time with his grandchildren. He continued: "I loved every minute of it. It is a fantastic organisation to work for. Everyone is of like mind - same attitude and same principles. "I will miss the people most, you built some great relationships. Even in the safety team, you work together and bounce off each other." A friend of Neil's had this to say about the retiree: "He is a big personality who has been admired and respected by his colleagues and senior officers alike. He will tell you that the fire service has given him a fantastic career which he has thoroughly enjoyed with no regrets. He has seen many changes through his career, with improvements in equipment and safety for firefighters, but he still thinks the fire service was more enjoyable when he first joined.
Fox News
7 days ago
- Fox News
Pope Leo XIV inspires over a million young Catholics at Rome faith gathering
Rome became the epicenter of a global faith movement over the weekend, as more than 1 million young Catholics answered Pope Leo XIV's call for faith and service. "My young brothers and sisters, you are the sign that a different world is possible," the pontiff told the Jubilee of Youth crowd in Tor Vergata, encouraging the sea of young faithful to embrace dialogue over division. Father Michael Tidd, headmaster at the Delbarton School in Morristown, New Jersey, told Fox News Monday that Pope Leo's message deeply resonated with the audience. "I think what Pope Leo says that resonates so well is that he's not afraid to ask hard questions and to challenge young people to live their faith more deeply, more authentically, to go beyond themselves and not just worry about their own concerns, but seek the good of their brothers and sisters," he told "Fox & Friends." According to Tidd, the pope's ability to connect stems from a natural "ease," a way of communicating that is neither overbearing nor condescending. Rather than lecturing the young Christians, he speaks to them personally, with a touch of warmth and wisdom. "He has an ability to engage readily, and you see that in his smaller audiences and the audiences at St. Peter's Square and certainly even here, his ability to catch their attention and to have them listen to him, not as someone who's admonishing them or chastising them, but someone who is encouraging, almost like a coach," Tidd observed. "[He's] encouraging them, motivating them to seek a deeper relationship with Christ, and also to bring the fruits of that relationship to their relationships with their brothers and sisters." The pope presided over a prayer vigil Saturday evening on the outskirts of Rome where he answered questions from young pilgrims, followed by a Sunday mass.
