# 1.3 million Joshua trees lost in California’s 2020 Dome Fire

2026-08-07T20:25:35+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 1 independent outlet

A new satellite-based tool is helping US park officials restore desert ecosystems after wildfires destroyed up to 1.3 million Joshua trees in California's 2020 Dome Fire. Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley and the US National Park Service developed the DSE Disturbance Severity Tool to quickly map fire damage in the Mojave Desert, where sparse vegetation and rocky ground made standard satellite assessments inaccurate. The software has already been used after two recent fires in Joshua Tree National Park. Invasive grasses and rising temperatures are increasing fire frequency in the region, with most fires started by human activity. Joshua trees can take up to 70 years to reach reproductive maturity.

## Coverage

- timesofindia.indiatimes.com <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/california-lost-as-many-as-1-3-million-joshua-trees-in-the-2020-dome-fire-new-software-now-helps-park-managers-target-recovery-after-wildfires/articleshow/133039377.cms>

Tags: California, climate refugia, digital restoration, Joshua trees, National Park Service, wildfire
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