biocrust conservation

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Photo by Lubo Minar on Unsplash

Under solar panels, desert restoration gets a leg up

Delicate biocrusts are used to restore drylands; instead of cultivating them in high-tech greenhouses, researchers are growing them under solar farms.
The desert’s ‘skin’ is disappearing—tiny lab-grown plants could save it

The desert’s ‘skin’ is disappearing—tiny lab-grown plants could save it

Biocrusts form a critical living layer on barren desert, preventing ruinous dust storms and anchoring plants. Scientists are trying to grow the complex systems and transplant them.

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