Why California Desert's Sand to Snow Area Needs Lasting Protection

Teeming with more than 1,600 species of flowering plants, the California desert "hosts some of the most remarkable biodiversity in the U.S.," says Tim Krantz, professor of environmental science at the University of Redlands.

"The biodiversity of this particular area, proposed for the [proposed] Sand to Snow national monument, is the richest in all of the continental United States."

Californians and other Americans—as well as visitors from all over the world—have long been drawn to the California desert's painted mountains, diverse wildlife, Native American petroglyphs, and rich history.

Now we have a historic opportunity to protect special places in the California desert that hold extraordinary historical, cultural, ecological, and economic value. After working for nearly a decade on legislative efforts to protect the California Desert, we are turning to President Obama to designate the Mojave Trails, Sand to Snow, and Castle Mountains areas as national monuments.

More videos and facts on U.S. wilderness conservation: http://www.pewtrusts.org/en/projects/americas-wilderness