A 640-acre parcel that is slated to, over time, become part of Joshua Tree National Park includes high ground with a view of both Yucca and Coachella valleys and the distant San Gorgonio Wilderness Area peaks, according to the Mojave Desert Land Trust, which recently purchased the land.

“Connecting people to outdoor opportunities and protecting wildlife corridors are two of the primary goals of the Mojave Desert Land Trust,” Danielle Segura, executive director of the group, said in a statement.

The landowner had originally planned to turn the property into a housing development, said Frazier Haney, conservation director for the Mojave Desert Land Trust.

But after five years of negotiations, the land trust purchased the property near Yucca Valley for about $900,000, he said.

The sale, which occurred in November, was announced this month.

“This is a landmark achievement for our organization and we couldn’t do it without strong partnerships,” Segura said.

David Smith, superintendent at Joshua Tree National Park, said the National Park Service was happy about the acquisition.

“This project will help Joshua Tree National Park manage adjacent public land and improve access to the park in the remote western edge of the park,” Smith said.

The Mojave Desert Land Trust will work to restore the property by cleaning up dumping sites; improving trails used by hikers, horses and mountain bikers; and restoring damage from irresponsible off-road vehicle use, Haney said.

The property is “right at the top of Long Canyon,” which extends for a little more than 8 miles and empties into Desert Hot Springs, he said.

The Mojave Desert Land Trust, founded in 2005, is a public charity whose mission is to protect the Mojave Desert ecosystem and its resources, according to its website.

Information: mdlt.org

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