Today we’re exploring an ecosystem that arguably doesn’t receive enough recognition: deserts.
Covering around 25% of the Earth’s surface, these unique habitats are home to many unique species, from camels to fennec foxes to kangaroo rats. Only the hardiest vegetation can survive in these arid ecosystems, most notably cacti. However, many other kinds of vegetation have managed to thrive in the deserts, such as tumbleweed and creosote bushes.
Despite their barren appearance, deserts actually have many uses. They are rich in many natural resources. Among these substances are compounds commonly found in fertilisers such as nitrates and potassium and even precious gems like diamonds. Deserts are also home to popular tourist destinations, such as the Grand Canyon in the Mojave desert. Some famous movies were even filmed in the desert, including Star Wars and Indiana Jones! Furthermore, the clear skies and lack of light pollution make deserts the perfect place for space observatories. And, while the practice is largely unsustainable and damaging to the environment, deserts are also used for agriculture.
Perhaps the most important use of deserts is their potential for renewable energy. This will arguably become more critical in the future with the increasing demand for renewable energy and the worsening effects of climate change. The strong winds in the desert make them ideal for wind farms, and the minimal cloud coverage, long daylight hours and vast areas of unused land make deserts the perfect location for solar farms. Theoretically, covering just 1.2% of the Sahara desert in solar panels would provide enough energy to power the entire world! There are obviously many limitations to actually achieving this, but it illustrates just how much potential for renewable energy deserts have. With more sophisticated technology in the (hopefully near) future, deserts could play a critical role in the path to sustainable development and solving the global energy crisis.
Unfortunately, deserts are also threatened by human activity. Vehicles can directly damage vegetation, and the noises can frighten and disrupt the local wildlife. Over-cultivation of land can deplete the nutrients in the soil and turn the soil infertile, harming the local vegetation. And, to top it all off, rising temperatures are increasing both the duration and severity of droughts as well as increasing the risk of wildfires. These changes to the environment can be hugely detrimental to the plants and animals that depend on the desert, potentially even having irreversible effects. As a result of our actions, more and more land is turning into desert while existing deserts are expanding, impacting the livelihoods of millions across the globe.
It is important that we help ensure the deserts are well protected. The best thing we can do is to ensure that we properly manage our desert resources and avoid over-exploitation of the land. When visiting the desert, make sure you don’t litter or damage the vegetation. You can also consider planting native plants to help restore the balance of the ecosystem. We can also indirectly help the deserts by helping to mitigate and reduce the impacts of climate change overall.
Did you know that not all deserts are hot and sandy? A desert is simply defined as an area that receives less than 250 mm of rainfall each year, so not all deserts have the stereotypical “desert” appearance. In our next article, we’ll be exploring another type of desert - a very cold one…
Credits:
Image - GoSolarQuotes
Information - EnvironmentalScience.org, Forbes, National Geographic, UNCCD
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