41. Protecting the Fragile Plants of Desert Landscapes with Jessica Esplin

In episode 41 of the Outdoor Minimalist Podcast, we get to talk about plants. More specifically, we do a deep dive into plants within a desert ecosystem and how to recreate in a way that respects the native flora and fauna.

To educate us on this important topic, I had the pleasure of hosting a dear friend of mine, Jessica Esplin.

Born in the heart of Southern Utah. Her family instilled a sense of wonder and respect for the outdoors while adventuring on the outskirts of Zion National Park. Working in the Outdoor Industry created a platform for her to travel for work and play. She soon realized another passion lay in the ecology of her home environment, the desert.

Currently working and living in Flagstaff, Arizona, Jess works with The Arboretum to preserve, conserve and showcase the Colorado Plateaus flora & fauna. Through her fieldwork, she has seen, more than ever, the need to preserve the fragile environments we all love. Whether you raise cattle, off-road, climb, or camp, we all play a part in these ecosystems. From the Sandstone Towers of the Colorado Plateau, the great cacti of the Sonoran, and the wonders of the Mojave, Jessica's unique perspective can teach us about the importance of preserving these lands.

Episode Resources

Arboretum at Flagstaff: https://thearb.org/

Seeds Jess is Currently Collecting in the Mojave: Baileya multiraidata, Desert marigold Lupinus odoratus, Mojave lupine Chylismia brevipes, Yellow cups Astragalus layneae, Widow's milkvetch Opuntia basilaris, Beavertail cactus Larrea tridentata, Creosote

Environmental Conservation Species Search: https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/reports/ad-hoc-species-report-input

USFWS Section 6 Program on Endangered Plant Species: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/endangered-species-conservation/endangered-species-act-section-6-program-cooperation

Association of Zoological Horticulture: https://azh.org/

The Wilderness Society: https://www.wilderness.org/

Native Plant Societies: https://ahsgardening.org/gardening-resources/societies-clubs-organizations/native-plant-societies/

Sierra Club: https://www.sierraclub.org/

California Desert Protection Act: https://www.nps.gov/jotr/learn/management/caldesprotect.htm

Plant Conservation Alliance: https://www.plantconservationalliance.org/

This transcript was edited to remove some filler words and phrases and is not verbatim according to what is spoken in the audio recording.

Meg: Thank you for joining me today, Jess. I'm excited that you had time to jump on the podcast! Before we start talking about desert plants and all that jazz, could you just give us kind of a brief overview of how you got into outdoor recreation and how that fits into your life today?

Jess: Thanks for having me, Meg. It's a pleasure to be here. I grew up in southern Utah—Cedar City and the St. George area—hiking, biking, and gardening with my folks. My parents were always outside doing something, especially my father, who is an avid hunter and gardener. He really instilled in me a respect and appreciation for plants, especially desert ecology as a whole.

I think while I’m outdoors, I feel like my most authentic self, and that’s why I love it so much. I soon began to explore other outdoor sports such as rock climbing, snowboarding, backpacking—and I also love to trail run and swim.

Meg: Awesome. And you've worked in and out of the outdoor industry since I’ve known you, and you’ve also integrated that love for plants as well as outdoor activities into your current career.

Can you talk a little bit more about what you're doing for work now and how you decided to pursue that career?

Jess: I originally was a ceramics major—an artist focused on functional pottery—and I spent most of my early artist career in Taos, New Mexico. I always enjoyed incorporating nature into my art.

Leaving ceramics behind, I eventually found wilderness therapy. I led backpacking groups for Elements Traverse for about a year and a half. I think this is where I had sort of an "aha" moment. I realized I already had so much knowledge of desert plants through educating my clients in the San Rafael Swell in southern Utah.

I was teaching young adults about fragile desert ecosystems, LNT ethics, low-impact camping techniques—and yeah, that’s where I really started to feel the need to dive deeper into my passion for plant science.

Now, I currently work at the Arboretum at Flagstaff in northern Arizona. I work in the horticulture department and also in the research and conservation department. The Arb’s focus—other than being a botanical garden of sorts—is on the conservation of native and rare plants of the Colorado Plateau.

Meg: Very cool. I don’t think I knew that about you with the ceramics background for some reason! So at the Arboretum, what types of projects are you working on at the moment?

Jess: Other than curating landscapes, I partially work on the grounds doing that, and I work in the greenhouses—so gardens, greenhouses, keeping plants alive.

I think the coolest thing I’m working on right now is within the research department at the Arb in the Seeds of Success program. The Seeds of Success program is coordinated by the BLM, and it’s this collaborative effort to collect seeds from native plant populations across the U.S. The seed is then used in conservation and restoration efforts.

This year will be my second season working with SOS, and I’ve mainly been focused on the Mojave Desert region. I go out and scout for native plant species—they give me a target species list, kind of like a priority list, as far as what’s more urgently needed.

I collect data and watch the plants, tend the areas, and then collect seeds that are needed for restoring overly grazed land and also for conserving some of the valuable desert tortoise forage and cover—which is really cool. I get really excited about the desert tortoises!

Also, it contributes to saving seeds for invasive species competitors, pollinators, as well as rare and endangered species for the national seed bank as a whole.

Meg: Yeah, that's really cool. And I also am weirdly obsessed with desert tortoises, so I'm excited for you that you get to be out there with them.

Jess: Yes! They're so cool.

Meg: So, when we originally connected to talk about the podcast and things we could maybe discuss on here, I was really interested in your vast knowledge of desert ecosystems, as well as the plants and animals that live in them.

I think a good starting point is just to talk about desert ecosystems in general—what qualifies as a desert, or how they differ from other types of ecosystems that people may be more familiar with?

Jess: Yeah, absolutely. I think to start off—maybe not a lot of people know this—but deserts actually cover about a fifth of the Earth's surface. They're extreme environments, and most people think of deserts as really hot and really dry. But some deserts are actually really cold.

A desert biome is classified as an area of land that receives no more than 10 to 15 inches of precipitation a year. This lack of water creates arid conditions and makes desert landscapes vulnerable. Temperatures also vary greatly between day and night, which increases evaporation rates. That’s not always apparent when you’re already in a desert, but things like dry lake beds are a huge characteristic.

Also, because of climate change, the impact on deserts is even more noticeable. These areas usually have coarse and fragile soils that take a really long time to recover when disturbed.

Meg: Yeah, I know a lot of people have heard of crypto soil or cryptobiotic crusts, but it feels like not everyone understands what they actually are.

Jess: Totally. And they’re real! They’re created by living organisms—algae, cyanobacteria, fungi—all within the soil. They release a material that binds the soil together. As a result, you get this hardened surface layer that helps keep the wind from just blowing all the dirt away.

Besides that, plants living in these soils are usually drought-resistant. There’s a lot of vegetation with rare and specialized biodiversity. That means the plant and animal species in these areas really rely on each other to survive. They've evolved special adaptations that help them thrive in these extreme environments.

Meg: That is really interesting. I didn’t know that so much of the Earth was covered by desert land. And I’ve always known about cryptobiotic soil, but I never really understood the purpose—so I’m really excited you shared that.

Jess: Yeah! I think a lot of people are a little jaded when they hear about crypto soil—like, they wonder if it’s really real or if it actually takes that long to recover. But it is real. It's alive, which is so cool and kind of wild.

I've seen some crypto soil that’s huge—it looks like a castle has been built!

Meg: Is that type of soil only present in certain kinds of deserts? Like, would we only see that in the Mojave Desert? Or is it in other places as well?

Jess: I think it's everywhere. Some places are just more saturated with it than others, of course. I’ve seen a lot of it in Utah, growing up in those red sands. Maybe it's just easier to see there because of the contrast in color. But it’s there—you just might not notice it.

Meg: For people who aren’t exactly sure what you’re talking about when you say “crypto soil,” can you explain some identifying features? Because when you’re hiking through those areas, you really don’t want to disturb that kind of soil.

Jess: Yes, absolutely. I’m always really aware of the soil—I don’t want to disturb it. I do believe there are organisms living in there, so staying on already-established trails is super important. I’m sure we’ll talk more about that later.

But the first thing I usually notice is that it looks kind of mounded. It almost looks like powdered sugar has been sprinkled on top—not in color, but in texture. There are tiny holes, it’s aerated and raised. Then, when you get into more established communities of cryptobiotic soil, you start to see mosses and lichen living on the tops of these mounds, and that takes a lot longer to form.

Meg: Yeah, whenever I’ve seen it, it’s a darker color. But I saw it mostly in Utah, so it really stood out against that red soil you mentioned. Is it usually darker, or can it vary?

Jess: It can definitely be darker, especially on the surface that you're looking at. But a lot of the soil underneath is usually the same color as the surrounding dirt.

Meg: So you really have to pay close attention to the texture of the soil, not just the color?

Jess: Exactly. It’s just something people aren’t used to looking for. It’s about having more awareness. Like, “Oh, this exists. I should look out for it,” rather than just tromping through the desert to get to your destination.

Meg: Yeah, I feel like the first step with a lot of this stuff is just knowing that those types of things exist.

Jess: Absolutely.

Meg: So, I’m not entirely sure if this is even a relevant question, but… are there different types of deserts?

Jess: Yes, there are. There are actually four types of deserts. You have subtropical deserts, which are hot and dry year-round—like the Mojave, the Sonoran, and also the Chihuahuan Desert.

Then you have cold winter deserts that have a long, dry summer and low rainfall in the winter. That’s more like the Great Basin, the Colorado Plateau, and the Red Desert.

You also have coastal deserts, which have cool winters and warm summers. They occur alongside coasts and often have a lot of wind—easterly wind patterns—that prevent moisture from moving inland.

And then there are polar deserts, which are found in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. They get very little precipitation, just like warmer deserts, but they’re cold all the time.

Meg: Okay, so I’m assuming we at least have the first three types of deserts in the United States?

Jess: Yes, we do. And also, something to keep in mind is that deserts can be combinations of each other. For example, last winter I was in Baja California, Mexico, which is a semi-arid coastal desert. When I found that out, I was like, “Wait—really? This messes everything up for me!”

Meg: Okay, so I feel like we’ve already kind of established there’s a lot of fragility in deserts in general—no matter the type. They're very easily impacted ecosystems.

Before we start talking about more Leave No Trace-type recreation in those areas, I think it could be beneficial to hear more about the historical and current loss of biodiversity within deserts in the United States.

First off, what is biodiversity loss?

Jess: Right—that describes a decline in the number and variety of plant and animal species, as well as genetic variability and the biological communities in a given area.

So when we’re talking about the Mojave and the Sonoran, when we lose this variety of life, we start to see a breakdown in the ecosystem. A decline in the function of that specific habitat becomes really apparent.

Actually, the Mojave Desert is one of the best-protected ecoregions in the United States. It has a lot more reserves than the Sonoran. Although, I feel like the riparian areas definitely need more protection—in every desert in the U.S.

I think roughly half of the Mojave Desert habitats remain intact, and the other half has been heavily altered by human activity.

Meg: Before you go any further, can you also explain what a riparian area is in case people aren’t sure?

Jess: They’re areas along streams, rivers, or waterholes. About 75% of all species in Arizona depend on riparian habitats for survival—especially in such a dry region. Water is a precious resource, and that’s where everyone flocks, even humans.

The more demand humans place on water, the more riparian areas are decreased and altered. And that really affects the creatures that live along our waterways—the plants, too.

Meg: So do you think a lot of the biodiversity loss—obviously, it’s from a multitude of reasons—but do you think a lot of it is because of that demand for water and the way we’ve manipulated water in deserts?

Jess: Yeah, I mean, I think that’s a huge part of the degradation of these habitats. It’s also a whole other discussion when it comes to water rights, and it’s a very political issue happening right now in the southern states especially.

Meg: When did the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts start to see more of that biodiversity loss?

Jess: I think climate change has really been affecting the deserts—I want to say, like, the last 50 years? They’re very affected by urbanization.

When you think about the Mojave, think about the urban sprawl from Los Angeles and Las Vegas. There’s also the increasing demand for landfill space, agriculture development along the Colorado River (which is a riparian zone), grazing, and off-road vehicles. All of those are huge contributors to the loss of biodiversity in these deserts.

Meg: Okay, I’m not exactly sure how to incorporate this next question, but I also want to talk a little bit about how deserts form.

Does the biodiversity loss that’s occurring—and continues to occur—actually change the type of desert that’s present? Like, can it increase desertification? And how are other areas being impacted by these processes?

Jess: Deserts are formed by a weathering process. Large variations in temperature between day and night put strain on the earth, causing evaporation and low humidity. This kind of weathering destroys plant life, which in turn affects animal life.

Also, without vegetation, any soil or organic matter gets swept away by wind—often leaving behind barren rocks and sand. On the other hand, when it rains in the desert, it can downpour, leading to flash floods that also affect plant life.

So that’s the process. And I’d say climatic variations and human activities are the two main causes of desertification.

Removing the natural vegetation cover—like when we take too much fuelwood or conduct agriculture in these vulnerable ecosystems—strains the area beyond its capacity.

In my experience in the Mojave, overgrazing is a major cause of desertification. And I think that’s true worldwide, not just in the Mojave.

There are so many contributing factors, but it’s human impact that really makes it worse. The weather is already doing what it’s doing—we’re already at this point—but we can lessen our impact. We can help cryptobiotic soils to grow and protect the plants that are holding the soil in place, so everything doesn’t just blow away.

Meg: So other ecosystems can also become deserts because of these processes you’re talking about?

Jess: Yeah, it’s not just about the weather. Disturbed soils are always more vulnerable. Think about urbanization, the overuse of groundwater, deforestation—even certain tillage practices. All of these make soils more vulnerable to wind and erosion, and they can turn a forested or lush area into something completely different.

Meg: Yeah, that is definitely... I feel like we could talk a lot about desertification. It's a very hard word for me to say! But we probably don’t want to go too deep.

Jess: I know! I’m just like, "Okay, I need to talk about something positive now."

Meg: Yeah, we’ll switch gears—it’ll be good. Thank you for all of that information.

One of the big things I know is that outdoor recreation doesn’t necessarily have the number one impact on deserts or biodiversity loss, but it does have an impact. So, when people are recreating in a desert landscape—whether it’s within an OHV area (like ATV use, I don’t remember the acronym exactly) or just hiking—how can people best minimize their impacts or follow specific Leave No Trace (LNT) guidelines for deserts?

Jess: The biggest thing is just to use existing roads, trails, and camping areas. Deserts can seem so inviting because they’re vast and open, and the plants look like they’re dead—but they’re not. And you have those special soils.

I think that’s the biggest thing. Also, doing some research before you go out to an area—like what’s a designated recreation area—and paying attention to sensitive plants and animals is important. It can be hard because there’s a lot of BLM land where motorized travel has more leeway than, say, a national forest.

But yeah, pay attention to fragile riparian zones—those are really important for both plants and animals. Also think about your sport: are you hiking, climbing, biking? Some climbing areas have seasonal closures for raptor nesting. Some parks don’t allow dogs because they’re trying to preserve species like bighorn sheep.

It really all comes down to basic LNT principles. Actually reading, learning, and following the guidelines outlined is super important.

Meg: Yeah, and I think when I’ve been to some of those areas—especially if I’m traveling somewhere new and it’s a hiking area I haven’t been—they’ll often have trailhead signs that show pictures of the plants and animals that might be endangered.

Jess: Totally. Especially in the Mojave, there are plants that are on critical lists. You can also do research—they have a federal plant list of endangered and threatened species online through the Environmental Online Conservation System.

Meg: Okay, I’ll share a link to that in the episode notes so if people want to look it up, they can. And since we’re talking about plants, could you name a couple that people might be familiar with or could easily recognize—ones that are more fragile or currently in critical or endangered conditions?

Jess: Yeah! I don’t think we’ve really talked about “endemic” and what that means. Both the Sonoran and Mojave deserts contain endemic plant species—plants that are found in just one region and nowhere else in the world.

These plants are really special. That also increases the urgency of conservation because once they disappear, we may never see them again.

For example, the Holmgren milkvetch is a critically endangered perennial herb that can only be found in a tiny section of the northern Mojave Desert, between Utah and Arizona. It grows really close to the ground, with leaves that lie flat on the desert floor, and in spring, it produces striking pink pea flowers. So it’s pretty easy to identify but very rare.

There’s also the Sentry milkvetch, a similar plant with maybe a different flower color. The golden paintbrush is endangered. Many manzanita species are threatened right now, especially in California.

Some native plants I work with that are on the federal endangered species list include Arizona agave, Arizona cliffrose, Kearney’s bluestar, and various pincushion cacti—which are easily overlooked because they’re tiny and just kind of peek out of rocks. They often get stepped on because they look like rocks, but they’re really cool and have beautiful flowers in the spring.

Also, the Arizona hedgehog cactus is on the endangered list.

Meg: Does that one actually look like a hedgehog?

Jess: Haha, I mean... I don’t think they really look like hedgehogs. I’ve spent a lot of time out looking for them and have found quite a few. They’re really cool, but they do look like they’re struggling right now.

They’re really affected by off-road travel, and being covered in dust doesn’t help—they need sunlight for photosynthesis. But if you imagine a bunch of tiny hedgehogs clustered together? Maybe.

Meg: Okay, okay, I can picture it. Maybe they’re cute though?

Jess: They are! They have really cool colored spines—much different than your typical “hedgehog cactus” you might think of.

Meg: We talked really briefly about some of the LNT guidelines and tips for the desert, and going back to the plants Jess mentioned—I’ll do my best to include links to some of those in the show notes so you can check them out.

I’ll also share pictures of them on social media, so if you just want to see pictures of them being beautiful in their natural habitat, you can head there too.

If we want to kind of transition from those individual LNT-type actions, I think it might be helpful to talk about how people can get more involved in larger-scale conservation efforts—like what you’re doing.

Meg: Yeah, I think that probably most of the people who are listening to this podcast are pretty educated on Leave No Trace. And I feel like we've already touched on a lot of the main points.

One thing I want to hit on before we move into restoration is that, in the desert, beyond just staying on established trails and roads, it's really important to pack out all of your waste—which often means pooping in a bag. I know that can be challenging and takes time to get used to, but human waste takes a very long time to decompose in the desert, especially toilet paper. So that’s something to really think about.

Also, if you do have to camp outside of designated areas, be sure to use durable surfaces like rock, sand, or gravel. These are highly durable and can tolerate repeated travel—like slickrock areas and dry washes, assuming there’s no rain in the forecast.

Jess: As far as restoration goes, researching a specific area you want to be in—or are going to be in—and actually knowing how fragile that area is, is key.

Also knowing what type of land you're on: is it a national park, state park, BLM land, or state trust land where motorized vehicles have more free rein?

Checking national park and BLM websites and making sure you know the regulations of the area is really important. These rules are in place to help preserve our natural environment, and there may be specific ethics depending on the activity you're involved in.

I also want to encourage everyone to never be shy about going into a ranger station or a local outdoor shop and asking questions. These people are living and thriving in these areas—they know a lot.

Restoration efforts, I feel like, are few and far between. I haven’t found many resources for people who want to be involved, other than reaching out to your local sport chapter or a conservation corps. But I do have some names of conservation partners, such as the Wilderness Society, the Native Plant Society, the Sierra Club, and the California Desert Protection League.

Also, a really cool website that's more connected to my involvement with the Seeds of Success program is the Plant Conservation Alliance. It's just plantconservationalliance.org. I want to encourage people to look into developing a Seeds of Success partnership in your area. They have a website and training every year, and anyone can participate within their specific climate range.

I think it really encourages community involvement as well. I’ve had a lot of people who were super stoked to volunteer with Seeds of Success and come out to the Mojave with me to collect seeds.

Meg: Yeah, that’s a lot of really great insight and resources, and I’ll make sure to share all of those in the episode notes. I also agree that expanding those types of restoration efforts and localizing them would be really awesome. I really feel like localizing as many of these efforts as possible is important.

Jess: Yeah, I totally agree. I think the best way to learn about an area you're in is to ask the people who live there and thrive in it. They care about it, they’ve done the research for you, and just reaching out to those people can be really powerful.

Meg: Awesome. Well, you already shared a lot of different resources just a minute ago, but did you have any other specific ones you'd encourage people to look at in terms of responsible recreation or desert restoration?

Jess: I think I just really want to stress the awareness of what type of land you're on. Finding out that information before you go is really important. It could be that it’s not encouraged for humans to be there at all because it's so fragile.

And also, it may not even be that fun for you—because it can be a really harsh environment. I think that’s an important step in planning whatever type of recreation you're doing.

Meg: Yes, I agree. Well, thank you for taking the time to be on the podcast. I feel like I learned a lot, and I hope everyone else did too.

Jess: Yeah, it was a pleasure. Thanks, Meg.