It's expected to take at least 100 years for nature to repair the damage caused to the fragile ecosystem by off-roaders, vandals and graffiti "street artists" who just couldn't resist spraying their crap on the rocks. There were even people who cut down Joshua Trees, just for the hell of it! They aren't good for firewood, and take a long, long time to grow. There was also a plethora of juniper trees cut up, I assume for firewood. I was surprised we didn't have a major fire in the Park during the Trump shutdown.
Here's an article from The Washington Post:
‘A travesty to this nation’: People are destroying Joshua trees in Joshua Tree National Park
In most depictions, Joshua trees tower above the earth. Feathery-looking limbs topped with spiky green leaves twist skyward, completing the gangly succulent’s striking appearance.
But now, viral pictures of these protected trees show a vastly different scene unfolding at Joshua Tree National Park in Southern California.
The trees in the photos have been felled and are lying on the dusty ground — and Park Service officials say people, not Mother Nature, are to blame.
Shared widely on social media Thursday, the photos have sparked outrage over the plight of national parks that remain open amid a partial government shutdown, leaving them understaffed and vulnerable to the antics of unruly visitors. Parks nationwide have struggled to deal with a variety of issues ranging from rampant littering and overflowing public restrooms to the vandalism of habitats.
“I don’t care if you’re a Democrat or Republican, what’s going on at Joshua Tree National Park is a travesty to this nation,” one person tweeted.
. . .
Before shutdown:
After shutdown:
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For anyone who voted for Trump because they wanted a radical change in Washington, this is only one consequence of their actions.
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