John Watson, Co-founder of The Radavist, released a 10-minute documentary called “From Biocrust, With Love.” John worked with filmmaker Sinuhe Xavier and Dr. Kristina Young to showcase the delicate nature of soil in dry and arid landscapes and how it’s all intrinsically linked to snowpack and river health.
Deserts have a reputation for being lifeless. Nothing is further from the truth. Dry places are full of life; you have to know where to look for it…
One of the most interesting places to look is right at the soil surface. In the desert surrounding Moab, Utah, the soil surface is alive with vibrant, charismatic organisms known as biocrusts (also referred to as cryptogamic or biological soil crusts).
These living communities of lichens, mosses, cyanobacteria, and other soil-dwelling creatures thrive in the open spaces between plants, anchoring the desert sands in place.
This film project explores this underappreciated desert ecosystem, exploring the consequences of disturbing the delicate biocrust through unsustainable recreation.
Join John Watson and dryland ecologist Dr. Kristina Young as they embark on a bike tour around the remote landscapes surrounding Moab. They will encounter biocrusts in nearly every corner and witness the disturbances that jeopardize the resilience of this beloved desert region.
Amidst the stunning vistas and expansive biodiversity, desert-drunk friendships forged between John, Dr. Young, and director Sinuhe Xavier, resulting in a cinematic ode to biocrusts and their vital role in preserving the desert’s fragile equilibrium.
- See more at The Radavist: https://theradavist.com/from-biocrust-with-love/
- Thanks to Fox Racing for the support. https://www.foxracing.com/
- From Biocrust, With Love
- A film directed by Sinuhe Xavier For The Radavist
- Presented by Fox Racing
- Executive producer: John Watson
- Executive Producer: Chad Hilton
- Producer: Sinuhe Xavier
- Director of Photography: Nick Kalisz
- Editor: Nicholas Kalisz
- Score/Sound: Jeff Cormack
- Color: Dan Olsen
- Illustration: Christina Belardo
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