When the word “deforestation” is said, many people think about jungles and forests being clear cut. Deforestation and the loss of habitat actually happens in more than just the rainforest and jungle. It is happening everywhere around us. Whenever there is an expansion of a city then deforestation is occurring. It even happens in the deserts among the western United States. As a Utah resident this hits very near and dear to my heart. Seeing new cities and an influx of people into my beautiful state, it is hard to see native animals and plants lose their habitat to urbanization. 

When people think about rainforests they tend to think about pythons, fish, monkeys and many other animals. The desert is no different. There are plenty of animals, deer, elk, tortoises, and endless others. Where the rainforest has a canopy, the desert has its “canopy” plants that play a vital role in the ecosystem such as sagebrush, cactus, pinion junipers, and cedars. It’s not only about losing trees. It is about losing places where desert creatures live and thrive. This is continually under attack by new highways, houses, and cities. Let’s look at some of the hidden gems of Utah and why they need to be protected.

The Grand Canyon
Landscape of the Grand Canyon

Beyond National Parks: The Hidden Gems of Utah’s Desert and the Urgent Need for Their Protection

Many people from all over the world travel to the western United States to see the beautiful national parks, like Zion’s, Bryce Canyon, and the Grand Canyon. Places like these are very important and are protected. Does it occur to people across the world that no more than 10 miles down the road the same beauty exists? Having travelled the western United States my entire life I know of canyons deeper than the Grand Canyon, and more beautiful than Bryce Canyon. Among all of it, wildlife.

My father, a Ph. D in ecology and a professor in zoology, biology, botany, and ecology has taught me that just as these parks are important to us they are also important to animals living there. For example the Kiabab Squirrel  only lives in the Grand Canyon and surrounding areas, the California Condor  is another example of an animal that only lives around the Grand Canyon and parts of California. This is not just limited to the Grand Canyon though, there are plants and animals like this all across the world.

Ancient Wisdom in the Arid Lands: How Indigenous Practices Can Save Our Desert Ecosystems

Thousands of years before Europeans ever lived in the United States Native Americans were here. There are different tribes all across the country spanning from New Jersey to California. These people lived in the deserts of the western United States and thrived. They had a much deeper understanding of the land we all live on and the balance with it.

I am a hunter and a conservationist. The reason I know so much about the wilderness and how things work is because I have spent my life running around the mountains and deserts. Generationally my father has his Ph. D in ecology and my grandfather worked for the division of wildlife resources for his entire life. Being someone who hunts and is out in the wilderness almost daily, you see the changes civilization can make on an ecosystem. You gain a greater respect for your surroundings and see how important it is to respect nature. As the Native Americans , most conservationists think the same way. Conserve today so that you can have it tomorrow, don’t take more than you need, and respect the wilderness. If everyone were to take notes of the Native Americans, deforestation would be looked at differently.

The Creeping Threat: How Invasive Species, Fueled by Habitat Disturbance, Are Transforming Our Deserts

Colt Wild Horse
Wild Horse – Colt

To bring things into perspective, think of your own garden or plants. All of the sudden a new plant moves in, it grows fast and before you know it the plant is taking the space and water of your original plant. This is a lot like what happens to the desert when invasive species are brought to the desert. Plants and animals that don’t belong take over and can cause major problems. The question is, “What does this have to do with deforestation and the loss of habitat?”

The answer is simple when people introduce new plants and animals to their landscaping and land they destroy what was once there. The best example of this is the Horse . Horses are not native to America. When people came here from Europe they brought horses with them and horses began to thrive. Once people couldn’t take care of them or they got loose, horses became wild. People who do not spend enough time in the desert don’t know that the wild horse is the worst thing to happen to the desert. Even worse than people. They leave the land desolate with no feed and water and continue to move. This devastates the ecosystems and kills all the plants and animals around. While many believe wild horses are majestic they are actually destructive.

Can Technology Bring Life Back to the Desert? Innovations in Arid Land Restoration and Conservation

Although it seems like habitat loss is a big problem, there is hope for a better world. People are finding new and innovative ways to use technology to help protect and even bring back damaged desert areas. One example is the use of a Guzzler . The term guzzler is exactly what it sounds like. It is a large tarp like structure that captures rain water and deposits it into water troughs. Giving animals in the desert water, they have even found ways so the horses can’t destroy it.

Scientists use data gathered by biologists and use GPS and maps to see where certain plants and animals live. By doing this it helps to understand where plants and animals need the most protection. Roads and cities are being changed to make sure the endangered plants and animals are not disturbed. They have even found new ways to help native plants grow back in areas that have been damaged. Having worked at a native seed factory there are so many good things happening to the ecosystem and because of technology things can be restored.

Desert Tortoise
Deseret Tortoise

The Unseen Connections: How Disturbing One Part of the Desert Ecosystem Can Trigger a Cascade of Collapse

Just like our bodies are connected with muscles, nerves, and tissues the desert is connected, like pieces of a puzzle. Plants provide food and shelter for animals. The animals then spread seeds and help keep the soil healthy. Animals as small as our pinky nail play a large role in the arid ecosystems of the western United States.

All organisms in an ecosystem are related to one another. If a certain type of plant is destroyed from urbanization or deforestation it may cause the insect that eats that certain plant to also disappear. Later, the bird that eats the certain insect leaves because there are no insects. The chain can go on and on leading to more and more species disappearing and becoming lost forever. The biggest problem I see is there are hardly any regulations to building roads or houses in the desert. People think that because it is hot and dry there is no wildlife which we learn is simply not true. When these civilizations are built the consequences are unexpected and can be the destruction of a species.

Deforestation and Loss of Habitat Isn’t Just the Forest

As seen in this blog, deforestation and habitat loss isn’t just about trees and the rain forest. It is about the loss of beautiful places where plants and animals live. What many don’t understand is that the desert is a place full of life that needs to be appreciated and protected.

If we can understand the different threats the desert faces, learn from those who have lived before us, embrace the use of new technology, and see the interconnectedness of desert life, many can help play a large role in conserving species for future generations. Just like we care about the rainforest and the incredible life they hold, let’s also care about the desert. Our western United States deserts are treasures worth protecting, beyond the sand and cacti.