With new digital tools, UC Berkeley researchers are helping Joshua trees survive wildfires

In 2020, the 43,000-acre Dome Fire burned over a million Joshua trees in Mojave National Preserve, leaving a landscape of skeletal remains. Researchers Maya Zomer and Lucia Layritz found small signs of life, including green resprouts, but recognized the existential threat to Joshua trees from worsening wildfires. The increasing frequency and severity of fires, driven by climate change and invasive grasses, risk eliminating Joshua trees from their namesake national park, according to a 2019 UC Riverside study.

UC Berkeley’s Eric and Wendy Schmidt Center for Data Science & Environment partnered with the National Park Service to create digital tools for post-fire recovery planning. These tools help park managers quickly assess burn severity and prioritize restoration efforts, addressing the unique challenges of desert ecosystems where traditional satellite imagery methods fall short. The tools were first used after the 2024 Eureka Fire and 2025 Black Rock Fire in Joshua Tree National Park, providing data to guide recovery decisions.

The research team is developing a platform called Josh, launched in 2025, to model future outcomes of restoration strategies such as planting seedlings or protecting against herbivory. The platform allows park managers to simulate different scenarios and predict long-term results, helping them decide where to focus recovery efforts in a changing climate. This tool aims to provide science-based guidance for ecosystem rehabilitation after wildfires.

The ultimate goal is for parks to independently use these tools without relying on UC Berkeley researchers. By equipping managers with accessible, data-driven platforms, the project seeks to streamline post-fire decision-making and improve the resilience of Joshua tree habitats in the face of increasing wildfire threats.