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[Biomes - Living Worlds] :: Impact :: Desert :: Destruction of Desert
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Destruction of Desert |
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The desert is very fragile in many ways, because of the scarcity of water and plants. Most plants that live in the desert take a long time to grow. For example, the saguaro cactus takes two centuries to grow. Once plants are destroyed, it will take many years for them to grow back. Since soil in the desert is held down by the plants roots, once plants are destroyed the soil is, too. The soil will quickly erode away in the strong winds. Many types of human activities hurt the desert. Off roading is one of these activities. Many people drive their off road vehicles in unrestricted areas all over the desert. Their vehicles leave tracks on the soil, which will scar the land for decades. These tracks also kill off vegetation. When vegetation is harmed, so are the animals. When vegetation dwindles in population, in popular off roading areas, so does the animal population. Animals that hide in the sand can also be harmed. The sand viper, which hides so well in the soil, can become an accidental victim of off roading mayhem. |