Climate Change
The LA Times references a USDA Climate Change report in passing.
It was just a couple of weeks ago that the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a report that found that global warming could cause both the Joshua tree and the Sagauro cactus to disappear as desert ecosystems change.
Here’s the USDA’s summary from the report.
Arid Lands: The West’s arid lands comprise one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions, and include the cities of Las Vegas, Phoenix and Salt Lake City. Predicted impacts include “continental-scale impacts on downwind ecosystems, air quality, and human populations” from increased wind erosion; major losses of signature desert species, such as saguaro cactus and Joshua trees; and increased drought, severe rainstorms, and erosion, which will help spark widespread desertification.
