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 San Bernardino County greatly values the Western Joshua tree as an iconic symbol of the Mojave Desert and actively supports efforts to protect and preserve the species. However, the county opposed AB 122/SB 122, the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act Budget Trailer Bill, which was passed by the Legislature and is expected to be signed by the Governor today. The legislation fails to properly balance protection of the species with the needs of our residents and business community, thereby threatening the quality of life in our deserts.
The county had hoped to support the bill and offered amendments that would strike the vital balance between protecting the Western Joshua Tree and preserving a reasonable quality of life for San Bernardino County residents today and into the future. Some amendments were accepted, but most amendments were not included. Mitigation fees were slightly lowered, but the bill still imposes very high costs on residents, businesses, and local agencies. This will discourage the building of much-needed homes, stifle economic investment, increase development costs in the region, and significantly harm the county’s Mojave Desert communities and residents.
The county will continue to advocate with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to ensure that Western Joshua Tree take permits are processed and reviewed expeditiously by Sacramento. The county will also continue its longstanding protection of Joshua trees through the County Development Code.
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