The stunning vistas, wildlife and cultural treasures of the California desert face a new and serious threat. Under a recently released plan from the Bureau of Land Management, thousands of miles of off-road vehicle routes—many illegally created—would be opened up in the Mojave Trails and Sand to Snow national monuments and other areas. In addition to damaging irreplaceable public lands, this could spoil hiking and other “quiet” recreation options in the landscape.

We have to tell the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to stop sanctioning excessive and unauthorized off-road vehicle use in these fragile desert spaces. Please submit a comment today asking officials to come up with a plan that responsibly balances motorized recreation with conservation as well as hiking and other quiet recreation.

Background photo: Off-road routes in the California desert. Credit: EcoFlight.