The California deserts including the Mojave and the Colorado and the Great Basin. The fragile and unique floristics of the California deserts is a key concern of CNPS, where we support a variety of exciting projects. The federal and state Endangered Species Acts are among our most important tools in the fight to conserve and restore California's native biological diversity. Livestock grazing impacts more acres of wild native plant communities in California than any other activity. Livestock affect all aspects of native ecosystems from plant and animal species composition to water quality.
Weeds are everywhere.
Some of them are taking over otherwise natural areas. Wetlands are one of the most imperiled of California's natural resources. Rapid urban expansion and agricultural conversion threatened a habitat which is already reduce by historic land reclamation practices. We work with elected representatives and with federal, state and local land management agencies to improve land management policies and practices that affect native plants. A useful archive of CNPS documents including policies and guidelines.