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Discovering the Desert / Preservation

Joshua Tree landscape with Sahara mustard

Outward Bound mustard pull

2009

To avoid disturbing native species, park staff and Volunteers in Park (VIPs) pull or cut back individual plants by hand before they can set and disperse their thousands of tiny seeds. While this process helps reduce the impact of the mustard, it is not feasible for large-scale eradication.

National Park Service photograph