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What if Joshua Tree National Park had No Joshua Trees?

joshuatreeendangered.jpg
Photo by Ryan Jesena/LAist

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On the heels of a state climate report that said California will have "less water and more frequent and intense wildfires, heat waves and bad-air days throughout this century," a congressional field hearing next week near Joshua Tree National Park will take on similar issues.

"Of great concern to Joshua Tree National Park is the threat posed to its namesake species, the Joshua tree, by a warming climate," the meeting summary states. "Other high profile park units have also been affected; damages include melting glaciers at Glacier National Park, dying forests at Rocky Mountain National Park, and flooding at Mount Rainier National Park."

They predict Joshua trees could be gone in 100 years, which has got us thinking about another park close to Los Angeles. With climate change, so does sea levels--what will happen to Channel Islands National Park?

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