Chris Clarke (he/him) is a California-based environmental journalist specializing in desert ecosystems, climate policy, and biodiversity conservation. His current work, published via Letters From the Desert, blends scientific rigor with narrative storytelling to spotlight issues like renewable energy’s ecological impacts and Indigenous land stewardship.
Clarke’s early work as KCET’s Environment Editor (2012–2017) established him as a voice for California’s unique ecosystems. During this period, he produced investigative pieces on topics like renewable energy development’s impact on endangered species and the cultural significance of Joshua trees. His transition to independent journalism via Substack in 2020 allowed him to delve deeper into hyper-local stories, such as the Mojave’s soil microbiomes and the politics of water rights in the Southwest.
This 2017 piece for PBS SoCal dissects the symbiotic relationships between Joshua trees, yucca moths, and desert rodents, framing the tree as a keystone species. Clarke traces its ecological role alongside its cultural significance to Indigenous communities, such as the Cahuilla and Chemehuevi tribes. The article gained traction among conservationists, contributing to the Joshua tree’s provisional listing as a threatened species under California’s Endangered Species Act in 2020.
In this 2018 investigation, Clarke scrutinized the proposed Hell’s Kitchen Lithium and Power Project near the Salton Sea, highlighting its potential threat to the endangered Amargosa toad. By juxtaposing corporate claims against ecological studies, he revealed gaps in environmental impact assessments. The article spurred public comments to the Bureau of Land Management, delaying project approvals.
Published in 2017, this analysis countered prevailing narratives that federal climate policy reversals would cripple state-level initiatives. Clarke outlined California’s cap-and-trade partnerships with Québec and Ontario, emphasizing subnational governance’s role in climate resilience. Policymakers cited the piece in debates over expanding the Western Climate Initiative.
Clarke prioritizes stories exploring how desert species and communities adapt to climate change. For example, his coverage of Joshua tree migration patterns demonstrates his interest in ecological resilience. Pitches could examine innovative water conservation in arid cities or Indigenous-led reclamation projects in the Sonoran Desert.
He frequently critiques large-scale renewable projects that threaten biodiversity, as seen in his Hell’s Kitchen geothermal exposé. Developers should highlight technologies minimizing habitat disruption, such as solar panels integrated with native vegetation.
Clarke’s reporting on the Amargosa toad and Mojave fringe-toed lizard reveals a preference for species lacking public advocacy. Researchers studying cryptic desert fauna—particularly those with symbiotic relationships—should emphasize conservation urgency.
Clarke received this accolade for his KCET series on California’s drought-driven conflicts between agriculture and wildlife. The judges noted his ability to humanize complex water rights disputes, such as the Delta smelt’s role in San Joaquin Valley irrigation cutbacks.
“The Mojave isn’t a wasteland to be endured; it’s a living library of evolutionary ingenuity.”
The Cultural and Ecological History of the Iconic Joshua Tree
Geothermal Developer Says Its Project Won’t Hurt a Toad Found Only in 400 Nearby Acres. Enviros Aren’t Buying It.
Donald Trump Abandoning the Paris Agreement May Inconvenience California’s Climate Efforts, but It Won’t Stop Them.
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