GlamisDunes.com > Studying Human Impacts On The Mojave

Crowdog

Oct 18 2006, 05:41 AM

Found this while surfing for sand dune images from space.....

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/Mojave/

QUOTE

What do you do when a fragile desert ecosystem turns into a recreational playground? Leonard Gaydos, Coordinator for the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Recoverability and Vulnerability of Desert Ecosystems project, and colleagues are using satellite data to develop tools that will help Mojave Desert land managers decide what recreational activities to allow and where to allow them. Specifically, the research team is studying vulnerability and recoverability of desert lands.

More at link above.

Looks like another tool for land managers to use in their quest to ban OHVs from the desert.

Bluesky

Oct 18 2006, 07:04 AM

Shouldn't we as users of the desert want to know more about the vulnerablility and recoverablilty of the desert environment?

Corndog is making the case for the CBD's suit against BLM. If you don't monitor the impacts of recreation, then the area can be closed down to all motorized us.

Haven't we learned anything in the past six years of closure and efforts to reopen them at ISDRA? If satellite data can tell us where and when are the best opportunities for recreation shouldn't we use it?

If the data tell us that we are endangering the continued viability of the desert by overusing its resources shouldn't we act to better manage our collective impacts?

Corndog is the poster boy for "I don't care what the data say--I just want to ride" image being pasted on responsible desert users.

Derwud

Oct 18 2006, 07:11 AM

QUOTE(Crowdog @ Oct 18 2006, 06:41 AM) [snapback]1923774[/snapback]

Found this while surfing for sand dune images from space.....

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/Mojave/

QUOTE

What do you do when a fragile desert ecosystem turns into a recreational playground? Leonard Gaydos, Coordinator for the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Recoverability and Vulnerability of Desert Ecosystems project, and colleagues are using satellite data to develop tools that will help Mojave Desert land managers decide what recreational activities to allow and where to allow them. Specifically, the research team is studying vulnerability and recoverability of desert lands.

More at link above.

Looks like another tool for land managers to use in their quest to ban OHVs from the desert.

To bad they can't focus their efforts on something worth while like, global hunger, Urban Sprawl, inner city decline, imigration, bi-partisan fighting in Washington. I guess this is an easier fight...

bigalbest

Oct 18 2006, 07:20 AM

I like how these academic types call their opinions "data".

Permagrin

Oct 18 2006, 07:22 AM

Blue is back!

Cookie

Oct 18 2006, 07:23 AM

QUOTE(Bluesky @ Oct 18 2006, 08:04 AM) [snapback]1923907[/snapback]

Shouldn't we as users of the desert want to know more about the vulnerablility and recoverablilty of the desert environment?

Corndog is making the case for the CBD's suit against BLM. If you don't monitor the impacts of recreation, then the area can be closed down to all motorized us.

Haven't we learned anything in the past six years of closure and efforts to reopen them at ISDRA? If satellite data can tell us where and when are the best opportunities for recreation shouldn't we use it?

If the data tell us that we are endangering the continued viability of the desert by overusing its resources shouldn't we act to better manage our collective impacts?

Corndog is the poster boy for "I don't care what the data say--I just want to ride" image being pasted on responsible desert users.

This will be hard to say, But I do agree with Blewbysky. I do agree if it can be used as a credible source of information, it should be used. But it needs to be real life scientific data that needs to be looked at, not some emotional plea.

As for Crowdog not caring about the land, simply not true and unfounded.

Derwud

Oct 18 2006, 07:30 AM

QUOTE(alxcook @ Oct 18 2006, 08:23 AM) [snapback]1923938[/snapback]

As for Crowdog not caring about the land, simply not true and unfounded.

And as far as all of us not caring about the land, also not true. Most of us care more about the land we ride on then those saying they are trying to protect it.