Protected Lands Episodes

This episode covers recent threats to Utah's Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monuments under the Trump administration. We talk to Morgan Sjogren, an author and expert on the landscapes in question, to discuss the impact of proposed reductions and potential resource extraction.

Chris Clarke and Laiken Jordahl of the Center for Biological Diversity, discuss the campaign against proposed border wall expansions in the Big Bend region of West Texas. The episode explores the wall's potential impact on communities, ecosystems, and wildlife. Discover grassroots efforts uniting diverse communities in opposition to the wall, driven by shared passion for preserving the area's ecological and cultural heritage. Learn about the organized efforts to safeguard one of the last untouched stretches of the U.S.-Mexico border and the unexpected alliances forming to counteract this divisive project.

Chris Clarke hosts a timely conversation with Dr. Jackie Grant, Executive Director of Grand Staircase Escalante Partners, about the potential impacts of a new congressional effort to overturn the monument's management plan. The management plan's erosion could threaten Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument's ecological integrity and its economic implications for local communities. Clarke reflects on the local and national support for this ecological treasure amid political challenges. Additionally, Chris discusses his upcoming travel to the Trinational Sonoran Desert Symposium.

Celebrating a historic milestone for the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe in Death Valley, this episode uncovers the journey from historical challenges to today's collaborations with the National Park Service.

Join host Chris Clarke as he explores the inspiring vision of establishing a transboundary network of protected areas across the US-Mexico border with guest Rick LoBello, Education and Conservation Director at the El Paso Zoo. Chris and Rick discuss efforts to connect Big Bend National Park with neighboring protected areas in Texas, Chihuahua, and Coahuila, fostering cooperation for conservation amid challenging politics. Discover the fascinating wildlife, conservation challenges, and potential benefits of this ambitious cross-border collaboration, while highlighting the unique community bonds in the Chihuahuan Desert region.

Reflecting on the erosion of environmental laws, rampant industrial proposals, and the clash between ideology and science, this episode urges careful listening to the desert's fading voices. As the podcast enters its fifth year, Clarke calls for community support to continue reporting on these vital issues, featuring voices like wildlife biologists and grassroots organizers who are championing desert protection.

Chris Clarke discusses the challenges facing Joshua trees and desert ecosystems with conservation biologist Nick Graver. They explore how climate change, invasive species, and increased human activity threaten these iconic landscapes. Graver, a graduate student at UC Riverside, shares insights on adapting land management strategies, the role of wildfires, and the importance of collaborative action across federal and state entities. As they discuss Graver's research on Joshua tree population modeling, they highlight the critical need for continued efforts to protect the desert's biodiversity for future generations.

With reduced staffing, National Parks in the American Deserts face risks of vandalism and inadequate visitor safety.

Chris Clarke reflects on the fifth anniversary of the Dome Fire, which devastated over 44,000 acres of the Joshua Tree forest in the Mojave National Preserve. The episode explores themes of loss, recovery, and environmental impact, as Clarke recounts his personal connection to the area and its transformation post-fire.

Morgan Sjogren shares an evocative reading from her recent book Path of Light : A Walk Through Colliding Legacies of Glen Canyon discussing uranium mining's impact on red rock country and the broader implications for desert landscapes.

Explore the evolving debate over a budget rider proposed by Senator Mike Lee that threatens to privatize millions of acres of public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

Explore urban environmental restoration at the Nature Center at Pia Okwai in South Salt Lake, guided by Parker Lloyd from the Tracy Aviary. Discover how this innovative project offers a sanctuary for native wildlife and a community haven amid industrial sprawl.

Chris Clarke hosts a compelling discussion with Diné activist Davina Smith on the significance of the Bears Ears National Monument.

Investigative journalist David Helvarg talks to us about threats to democracy, public lands, and global environmental activism amid escalating misinformation and violence.

Episode Summary: In this episode of 90 Miles from Needles: The Desert Protection Podcast, host Chris Clarke engages in a compelling conversation with author Josh Jackson about the significance of BLM lands in California. Josh shares his journey from discovering BLM lands to exploring them extensively and writing a book about his experiences. His book, "The Enduring: A Journey into California's Public Lands," aims to shed light on the underappreciated beauty and value of these lands, advocatin...

In this first episode of Season Four, we look at: Wildfires and Power Infrastructure: Power lines and climate change are making wildfires worse, so it's time to think about smaller, local power setups. Chuckwalla National Monument: Creating this monument is a big step in keeping sensitive ecosystems safe from the impacts of climate change. Moab to Mojave Conservation Corridor: This amazing set of protected lands showcases a joint effort to preserve the Southwest's unique landscapes. ...

Some landscapes become part of who we are. Chris Clarke reflects on his relationship with Avi Kwa Ame, the southern Nevada landscape protected as a national monument in 2023 after years of Indigenous-led advocacy. Personal stories of desert exploration mingle with excerpts from the monument's designation celebration and voices from the campaign to protect it. The result is both a portrait of an extraordinary place and a meditation on how loving a landscape can change the course of a life.

The Chihuahuan Desert stretches across northern Mexico and the southwestern United States, encompassing extraordinary biological and cultural diversity. Chris Clarke talks with Janae Reneaud Field, Kathia Gonzalez, and Rocio Ronquillo of El Paso's Frontera Land Alliance about protecting this often-overlooked desert. They discuss community conservation, environmental education, and the campaign to protect Castner Range, while exploring what it means to build a conservation movement rooted in the communities that call the Chihuahuan Desert home.