The loss of aeolian sand habitat in the Coachella Valley of southern California has accelerated to an unprecedented level. In an attempt to protect this habitat, and its endemic species of plants and animals, an effort was made to get the Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard (Uma inornata) listed as "Threatened" or "Endangered" by either the U.S. or California wildlife agencies. That appeared to be the most practical way of getting money to acquire some of this habitat. The proposal encountered a great deal of political and developer resistance, but the opposition finally was overcome. In 1980, the lizard was listed as "Threatened" by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and as "Endangered" by the California Fish and Game Commission. To date, the California Wildlife Conservation Board has spent several hundred thousand dollars to form the Coachella Valley Ecological Reserve. Efforts are underway to increase the size of this reserve.
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