peer review of: The desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) faces significant threats primarily due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation resulting from urbanization, agricultural expansion, mining activities, off-road vehicle use, and livestock grazing. These factors, compounded by challenges such as disease, predation, and climate change, contribute to the species' vulnerability. Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the desert tortoise is listed as a threatened species, which triggers various legal protections and conservation measures. These include critical habitat designation to safeguard essential areas for the tortoise's survival, recovery planning to outline strategies for species conservation, and consultation requirements for federal agencies to ensure their actions do not harm listed species or their habitats. Complementary conservation efforts aim to enhance the effectiveness of legal protections under the ESA. Habitat restoration and management projects work to restore degraded habitats and improve conditions for the tortoise, while corridor conservation initiatives create wildlife pathways to connect fragmented habitats and facilitate species movement. Community engagement and education programs involve local stakeholders in conservation efforts, fostering public support and awareness. New News: Hromada, S. J. , Esque, T. C. , Vandergast,A. G. et al. Using movement to inform conservation corridor design for Mojave desert tortoise. Mov Ecol 8, 38 (2020). The study investigated the movement patterns of Mojave desert tortoises in response to human development and landscape features. By using GPS tracking technology, researchers identified key habitat preferences and movement behaviors of the tortoises, such as avoiding steep slopes and utilizing linear barriers for travel. These findings provide valuable insights into the design and management of mitigation corridors, especially those established between solar facilities, to ensure they are wide enough to accommodate tortoise home ranges. Understanding these movement patterns is essential for conserving desert tortoise populations and maintaining connectivity among them amidst increasing human activity in their habitat.

a) The article primarily discusses the threats faced by the desert tortoise and the legal protections provided under the Endangered Species Act.
b) The article focuses on the movement patterns of Mojave desert tortoises and their implications for conservation corridor design.
c) The article explores the role of community engagement and education programs in desert tortoise conservation efforts.
d) The article discusses the impacts of habitat restoration and management projects on desert tortoise populations.