Joshua trees survived being loathed. Now loved, they're at risk

The iconic Southern California species could be functionally extinct by 2070 because of climate change

- BARRET BAUMGART GUEST CONTRIBUTOR

JOSHUA TREES face an uncertain future. Scientists warn that without significant climate action, the species could be functionally extinct by 2070 because of climate change.

The recent government shutdown left Joshua Tree National Park vulnerable to vandalism during peak visitor season, with the Mojave Desert Land Trust reporting graffiti and habitat destruction. Conservation groups have petitioned for federal protections under the Endangered Species Act. “Love them, hug them, kiss them even, but never climb or hang from them,” the National Park Service reminded visitors after Miley Cyrus posted photos of herself hanging from an ancient Joshua’s branches in 2019.

The affection is genuine. Visitor numbers at Joshua Tree have been among the fastest-growing for any national park. Millions visit annually, seeking Instagram backdrops with the trees’ distinctive silhouettes.

But doing research for a book on Joshua trees, I discovered something unexpected: White Americans who first encountered these trees didn’t just dislike them. They despised them with a passion rarely directed at any plant species.

The historical record reveals remarkable vitriol. Explorer John C. Frémont’s 1844 description of the Joshua tree as “the most repulsive tree in the vegetable kingdom” was just the beginning. What followed was a cascade of Victorian-era contempt.