Desert Conservation Program
Desert Conservation Program supports agencies, tribes, and nonprofits in land acquisition, restoration, management, and studies to conserve the natural and cultural resources of California’s deserts.
Funder: Wildlife Conservation Board
Due Dates: Rolling (Pre-applications)
Funding Amounts: No limit on funding requests; cost share not required
Summary: Supports land acquisition, restoration, management, and scientific studies to conserve California’s Mojave and Colorado Deserts.
Key Information: Projects must fall within the program boundary, which excludes the Coachella Valley Mountains Conservancy area.
Description
The Desert Conservation Program is administered by the Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) and was established by the California Desert Conservation Act in 2021. It protects the natural, cultural, and physical resources of California’s Mojave and Colorado Deserts through land acquisition, restoration, and management. Priorities include biodiversity and listed-species recovery, climate resilience, air quality, water resources, and public use of publicly owned lands, particularly access and education for communities that currently lack access.
Supported work includes acquiring wildlife corridors, water sources, sacred or culturally significant tribal sites, listed-species habitat, and public-access lands. Other eligible activities include riparian and upland vegetation restoration, invasive plant control, seed collection and propagation, and scientific studies, especially studies supporting listed-species recovery. The program recognizes the region’s ecological significance, ancestral tribal homelands, and recreational value.
