Defenders' Experts
Desert Tortoise Management and Policy
The desert tortoise was listed under the Endangered Species Act in 1989 and a team of experts developed a Recovery Plan to guide its recovery in 1994. However, the Mojave population of the desert tortoise is still declining drastically due to staff constraints, funding shortfalls, and lack of public support for necessary recovery actions.
Currently Defenders
is involved in a mandated review of the recovery plan.
Defenders comments on Agency/Stakeholder Review Draft Revised Recovery Plan for the Mojave Population of the Desert Tortoise 
(11/15/2007)
Recovery efforts
include Defenders advocating for a strong, scientifically sound outcome from the
process of the Recovery Plan. Defenders are also participating in the Desert
Managers Group– a group that will take the recovery plan recommendations and
implement them on the ground. Defenders submitted comments on the West
Mojave Habitat Conservation Plan as to potential adverse affects on tortoises
and their critical habitat needs.
Hyundai Test Track
In an effort to protect desert tortoise habitat, in 2004 Defenders sued Hyundai over plans to build a new test track because the mitigation measures in the HCP were inadequate. As a result of this lawsuit, Hyundai arranged for the acquisition of a key parcel in the expansion area for the Desert Tortoise Natural Area (DTNA), a 40 square mile area managed by the BLM for research and habitat protection for the tortoise. This parcel, known as "Camp C," was an off-road staging area and the acquisition is critical to the restoration of the DTNA and the expansion area.
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