Desert Plants

April 21, 2022

Question: What is the California Desert Native Plants Act?

Answer: The purpose of the California Desert Native Plants Act (CDNPA) is to protect certain species of California desert native plants from unlawful harvesting on both public and privately owned lands. The CDNPA only applies within the boundaries of Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Mono, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties. Within these counties, the CDNPA prohibits the harvest, transport, sale or possession of specific native desert plants under many circumstances unless a person has a valid permit or wood receipt, and the required tags and seals. The appropriate permits, tags and seals must be obtained from the sheriff or commissioner of the county where collecting will occur, and the county will charge a fee. More information on the CDNPA, including the species protected under the law, is available on CDFW’s website at https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Plants/CA-Desert-Plant-Act.