Planting Project – Restoring Wildfire-burned Habitat in Red Cliffs

Conserve Southwest Utah cares for the plants, animals and cultural resources of the Red Cliffs NCA, and the quality of life in the communities that surround it. We’re committed to bringing the desert back to life in multiple habitat restoration plots designed to heal land devastated by wildfires. These plots are located in critical habitat for the threatened Mojave desert tortoise. Since 2020, we’ve helped the Bureau of Land Management plant more than 5,000 native shrubs and wildflowers in an intensive habitat restoration plot near the Cottonwood Canyon Wilderness. Our volunteers tend to this restoration plot by watering and weeding the plants, building cages to protect them, and helping with survivorship counts. Our goal is to create “fertile islands” that will seed and spread to other areas, providing food, shelter and beaty in the future.

Every October, we plant new creosote, white bursage and green ephedra plants in the plot. A date has not yet been determined for this event, but please let us know if you’re interested. Email sarah@conserveswu.org

Thank you!