As an imperiled ecosystem inhabited by multiple threatened and endangered species, the San Joaquin Desert has long been a focus of research, but recovery efforts did not gain much momentum until the 1990s. Since the USFWS published the “Recovery Plan for Upland Species of the San Joaquin Valley, California” (USFWS 1998) conservation and recovery efforts have greatly increased, with many organizations using the recovery goals of the plan to shape research and conservation actions. Highly visible efforts, such as the Endangered Species Recovery Program, CDFW, and easements set aside for mitigation, along with many other efforts are contributing to conservation and recovery. Consultants can fill many roles in these efforts, both through client-driven project actions and as a complement to direct conservation activities. Contributions can also be made in the form of internships and entry-level employment to students, new graduates, and early career professionals who could be the conservation researchers and wildlife managers of the future.