The MAB Program United States of America
Biosphere Reserve Information - General Description
Desert
General Description
The Desert Biosphere Reserve
and Experimental Range is located in Pine Valley some 70 km west of Milford,
Utah. Its geography, flora and fauna represents the Great Basin, an arid and
cold desert of the Western United States comprising a series of north- and
south-aligned ranges and closed basins. Vegetation is typical of the Great Basin
plant communities, particularly salt-desert shrub with e.g. shadscale saltbush (Atriplex
confertifolia) and sagebrush (Artemisia spp.).
The area is largely undisturbed by man except fences, a limited road system, and
controlled livestock grazing. Research that is carried out in this cold desert
includes for instance disturbance and successional processes in North American
cold desert plant communities, desertification and winter sheep management. The
area has been protected and utilized in experimental grazing programs for many
decades and there are long-term records of range use, vegetal change and climate
available.
Last updated: 06/27/2005