World Desert Day

Join us in Celebrating the World's Deserts


The second Saturday in January recognizes World Desert Day as a day to raise awareness and appreciate deserts around the world. 

The Deserts Need Our Help!

Desert ecosystems are home to many animal and plant species, some of which are threatened and critically endangered due to climate change, habitat loss and fragmentation, invasive species, and various human-driven activities. These desert specialized plant and animal species are vital to the desert and its continued survival. Spreading awareness of these threats brings about a call to action, helping to save these desert dwellers and this imperative desert ecosystem.

Introducing World Desert Day!

The first-ever World Desert Day was launched on January 13, 2024. Created by The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens in Greater Palm Springs, CA, it occurs on the second Saturday in January and celebrates the beauty and diversity of deserts worldwide.

At the inaugural celebration, The Living Desert hosted a special in-park event featuring desert-themed scavenger hunts, animal connections, a desert plant sale, plant and animal trading cards, and connections with 11 of their conservation partners.

The cities of Palm Desert and Indian Wells and Congressmember Dr. Raul Ruiz acknowledged this celebration with a proclamation.

We look forward to celebrating World Desert Day again in 2025 and invite you to celebrate with us!

Did You Know?

Deserts are one of the planet’s major biomes and one of the most richly diverse ecosystems in the world. Accounting for more than one-third of the Earth’s landmass and home to more than one-sixth of the Earth’s population, deserts have surprisingly varied climates. There are four main types: hot and dry deserts, semi-arid deserts, coastal deserts, and cold deserts. To be considered a desert, the region typically receives less than 10 inches of rain annually.

How You Can Help…

WorldDesertDay_Tshirt

Individual Level

    • Share the importance of deserts on social media (Check out @TheLivingDesert on Instagram for posts you can share!)
    • Volunteer at and/or donate to desert conservation organizations
    • Attend a World Desert Day event!
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Organizational Level

    • Highlight AZA SAFE programs and endangered desert animals
    • Share why deserts are important (and how they might impact your local biome)
    • Host your very own World Desert Day event to engage your local community and share the unique value of desert ecosystems
western monarch

Suggested Calls-To-Action

    • Plant native/xeriscaping
    • Be a responsible pet owner and protect native wildlife
    • Support pollinators
    • Advocate action at the state and government level
Propagation Garden at The Living Desert, photographed on October 12, 2023.

Suggested Activities

  • Host your conservation partners to meet guests
  • Scavenger hunts and quizzes
  • Symbolic adoption program
  • Special connections with your staff
  • Chalk artist demonstrations — with professionals or guests!
  • Interactive games for adults and kids
  • Garden tours

Get the Tools You Need to
Support World Desert Day

For promotional/event materials, such as logos, postcards, worksheets, and advocacy postcards, please contact Allison Krupp, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at The Living Desert, at AKrupp@LivingDesert.org

Get World Desert Day Materials