Our Place
The Colorado Plateau is the heart of the Southwest. From the
depths of the Grand Canyon to the heights of the La Sal
Mountains, from the ancient pueblos of New Mexico to the
booming cities of Flagstaff and Durango, it ranks high among
North America’s natural and human treasures. Its scenic wonders
– cliffs and canyons, mountains and mesas – are instantly
recognizable to visitors from around the world.
But the plateau is much more than a backdrop. It is one of the
continent’s most biologically and culturally diverse areas. Its
200,000 square miles include a vast range of natural habitats,
from sun-baked deserts to clear streams. Though the plateau is
largely arid, it also includes cool high-elevation forests and
even patches of alpine tundra, while its deserts and grasslands
are punctuated by the green lushness of riparian areas and
scattered springs. Hundreds of endemic plants and numerous
species of animals live here, many of them adapted to the
environmental constraints of very particular places.
People have lived on the plateau for thousands of years, and
many native tribes still dwell in the same places their
ancestors did. They speak 22 indigenous languages and maintain
cultural practices, such as dry farming, that work in concert
with the region’s often difficult environment. More recent
arrivals, from Spanish settlers to immigrants from other parts
of the United States, have also contributed to a rich cultural
stew.
Like so many other places, the plateau is also facing serious
threats in the form of human population growth, species
endangerment, severe wildfires, water shortages, and other
environmental threats. Its arid environment is delicate and
easily damaged by careless human impacts. Fortunately, a
growing number of people are working to develop and implement
practices that can allow us to live in harmony with the
region’s environment. Some of these practices, such as the
water conservation strategies of the Hopi people, are very old;
some, such as new technologies that harness the energy of the
wind and the sun, are very new.
Across the plateau, people are gardening with native plants,
composting, recycling, building with sustainably produced
materials, and eating local foods. Together, these practices
point the way to a future in which the natural and cultural
treasures of the Colorado Plateau will remain for our
descendants to celebrate. Let Earth Notes be your guide to that
future as we examine our region’s splendid diversity – and look
at positive solutions to today’s environmental problems.
