Attempts to plant new Joshua Trees after destructive fires assisted by load carrying camels

What an incredible project! Thanks for all the fun ecological posts this morning @boxer_dogs_dance !

The US forest service and CalFIRE have been dumbing out the coffers on forest restoration and management projects, particularly after the deadly paradise fire, but this is the first time I've heard of them doing restoration at Joshua Tree. It's hard to convey just how much these massive fires change the landscape and how long that change lasts for. In some cases, and many of the areas of California, what we're seeing post super fire is an actual change in ecosystem type from forest to grassland. A permanent change. These are designated as "super fires" due to their incredibly high temperature. There is so much unburned underbrush (due to restrictive fire laws) and such dense timber (due to clearcutting for forestry), that these fires burn much hotter and travel much faster than a traditional forest fire. The consequences are trees and ecosystems that normally need fire to maintain health are completely burning. The US forest service is under such strain that in many cases they assume California will just continue to burn until we're literally out of forests. That is freaking wild!!!! If you have time, do yourself a favor and zoom into Mount Shasta on Google Maps or Google Earth and make sure the satellite imagery is turned on (not topo or streets). Then start zooming out until things start to look a little pixelated, particularly around Big Bend. That isn't pixelation, it's clear cutting. Or check out the virtual tour of Big Basin to see more of the destruction. It's all pretty sad for the folks who enjoy the back country now. Sorry for the depressing tangent, anyway back to Joshua Tree and this project.

For those that haven't visited Joshua tree, stop the trip planning you are doing and refocus on Joshua Tree. I'm kidding, but seriously consider make a trip soon. March-May are the best times to visit, after the cold cold nights of the winter and before the hot hot days of the summer. Joshua Tree was a complete surprise to me when I first visited. It is such an alien landscape, unlike any other ecosystem I've been in. There are these massive (and I mean maaaasssssive) boulders all stacked on top of each other. Between them are these bizarre looking plants, like the Joshua Tree, that make it even more alien. It's just... weird, in the best way possible. It is my favorite of our National Parks, and this is from someone who grew up going on yearly trips to Yosemite. It is nuts!

Big secret is that there is a conservation area just out the northern entrance of the park. It is home to the greatest dispersed camping I have ever done. There are about 15 unofficial sites that sit amongst these giant boulders and you are about 200 feet to your nearest neighbor. They aren't official sites so no water or bathrooms. But Coyote Corner, back at the turnoff to the park has bathrooms and even showers for use.

Go check out the park!

The author knew he had hit pay dirt after this line in the interview:

“Chico puts the drama in dromedary,” the camels’ owner, Jennifer Lagusker, said as he grumbled loudly, exposing his slimy tongue as volunteers loaded water jugs onto his frame on a warm day in late 2023. Lagusker wore a wide-brimmed hat, cargo pants, and a green volunteer T-shirt. She told me Chico is a dromedary camel recognizable by his single hump. His comrade, Sully, is a stunningly handsome but aloof Bactrian camel (two humps), while hard-working Herbie is a hybrid of the two species.