Desert Tortoise In Trouble
The desert tortoise occurs in low densities over a wide-range. It shares its desert habitat with a wide range of human users and suffers greatly from their impacts. Despite being listed under the Federal Endangered Species Act since 1989, desert tortoise numbers are continuing to decline throughout its range. Scientists have attributed recent declines in part to the failure of government agencies to implement the recommendations of the 1994 Desert Tortoise (Mojave Population) Recovery Plan, a carefully developed plan that a panel of government appointed tortoise experts took nearly 4 years to produce.
This page provides resources and links to ongoing desert tortoise conservation efforts and issues, and the many challenges the desert tortoise faces today.
– Michael J. Connor
- Desert Tortoise Translocation May Cause More Harm Than Good
- Revising the Desert Tortoise Recovery Plan - "USFWS - Stakeholders Review Draft" (large pdf)
- Federal Judge Stays Plan to Increase Cattle in Desert Tortoise Habitat at Ord Mountain, California
- USFWS Final EA On Raven Management (external link)
- BLM Proposes 10 Year Renewal Of Sheep Grazing in Desert Tortoise Habitat - CBD/WWP/CTTC Comments
- Conservation Groups File Suit to Overturn NECO and West Mojave Plans 8/14/06
- West Mojave Plan Record Of Decision Signed
- West Mojave Plan Biological Opinion Released
- Northern and Eastern Colorado Desert Plan
- Proposed Fort Irwin, National Training Center Expansion
- Western Rand Mountains ACEC Vehicle Closure
- Proposed Fort Irwin, National Training Center Expansion
- Western Rand Mountains ACEC Vehicle Closure
- Desert Planning Efforts - West Mojave Plan
- Desert Tortoise Status and Critical Habitat
