KQ3 - What are the issues associated with the development of hot arid/semi-arid environments?

Question 1

Where is the Navajo Nation?

Answer 1

• Monument Valley is located on the southern border of Utah with northern Arizona

Question 2

What is the unemployment rate in the Navajo Nation?

Answer 2

about 50%

Question 3

What size is the Navajo Nation?

Answer 3

• 26,000 square miles

Question 4

What opportunities are there in the Navajo nation?

Answer 4

• Selling homemade baskets to tourists as souvenirs $3000-7000 each
• Income generation

Question 5

What issues arise in the Navajo Nation?

Answer 5

• Travel 300miles to get basic resources
• Rely on wealthy tourists who value Navajo culture
• Sumac grass isn’t found nearby (arid area) have to source grass for the baskets
• Difficult to maintain cultural identity
• Declining numbers of children learning the native language
• Businesses = primary or tertiary sector: little diversification
• A complicated process to start a business – archaeological survey, obtain a letter of support from the tribe’s president
• Navajos do not own their land – held in trust by federal government, almost 8000 claim grazing rights over land that often extends into towns.
• Political problems, resulting in private enterprise which is unsuccessful

Question 6

What are the issues found in Arches National Park, SE Utah, USA?

Answer 6

• ORVs damage the fragile ecosystem which leads to soil erosion, steam pollution and a loss of wildlife
o ORV trails have grown by 200% in the last 5 years - Utah now has 160,000km of dirt roads
• River crossings increased and the stream bed has been damaged + a loss in fish species
• Tourists can damage natural stone arches
• Increasing accessibility for tourists can damage cryptobiotic crust
o Damage = can prevent further growth of plants
o Crust prevents erosion and holds sand/soil particles in place so they don’t blow away

Question 7

What are the problems facing Southern Utah?

Answer 7

• Damage to the fragile ecosystem.
o loss of wildlife
o soil erosion
o stream pollution
• Streams, creaks and springs make up less than 1% of Utah’s wilderness area, yet they support over 80% of all wildlife species in the region
• Stream beds damaged: loss of sensitive fish species, and sandy river banks have become deeply eroded
• Soils then become displaced and unable to bind together, become susceptible to soil erosion and to being bakes by the sun
• Noise and dust pollution
• Because of the popularity more areas are being opened for recreation