Desert Under Siege

Very little escapes the scrutiny of commercial man, and Desert Under Siege, with its look at increasing human activity in the California desert certainly underscores this point. Though to the naked eye, this humongous area which makes up a quarter of the state of California may seem to be a barren wasteland devoid of life, it's actually home to some 2,000 plant and animal species as well as a half million people. Unfortunately, strip-mining, livestock grazing, off-road vehicle recreation, and military training, have all taken their toll on the environment, and Desert Under Siege with its pristine camerawork and trenchant commentary provides pretty persuasive evidence of the danger to the existing ecosystem. The plight of the Desert Tortoise, recently listed as an endangered species is examined, and mention is made that some 70 desert plants are now considered threatened. The ongoing commercial activity is particularly frustrating to local scientists who see their research environment as being literally under siege. One scientist sums up the situation thus: "let's not trash our biological library." An excellent addition to the growing number of superb environmental tapes, Desert Under Siege is highly recommended. (Available from: The Video Project, 5332 College Ave., Suite 101, Oakland, CA 94618.)