The Desert Underground: Exposing a Valuable Hidden World under Our Feet (Webinar)

Join us for a fascinating look at the world hidden underneath us! 

Through original artwork, graphics, and photography, botanist and plant ecologist Robin Kobaly will lead us on a virtual tour of the desert underground. This “tour” will reveal the amazing partnerships that connect every native plant underground across the landscape. We’ll journey through the interlocking biological and geological systems that work together to gather, move, and share resources, pass information between plants, create a surprising carbon sponge, and help to combat climate change wherever desert soils remain intact. It may be the first time you appreciate caliche! The importance of intact desert landscapes with intact desert soils will become clear when you discover the carbon capturing potential of our desert soils. You won’t believe what is happening under our feet. 

What to expect: 

• See the desert in a new way – Discover the hidden world beneath your feet that powers all desert life.

• Connect to the land – Learn how desert soil supports the wildflowers, animals, and beauty you love.

• Be inspired to protect it – Understand why this fragile ecosystem needs your care

Who should attend:

• Nature enthusiasts and desert lovers – curious about the hidden life and survival strategies beneath the desert surface.

• Students, teachers, and lifelong learners – interested in ecology, botany, geology, or climate science.

• Conservationists and land stewards – seeking insight into the role of intact desert soils in carbon storage and climate resilience.

• Artists, photographers, and storytellers – looking for new perspectives and inspiration from the desert’s unseen world.

• Community members, policymakers, and land managers – wanting to understand why desert preservation is vital for combating climate change.

REGISTER HERE

Date: Wednesday, October 15, 2025  

Time: 12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.  

Location: Online via Zoom. Instructions to access the webinar will be available upon registration and resent the week of the event.  

Cost:   

ABF Member: $7 

Non-Member: $10  

Student: $5  

Cancellation Policy & Scholarships: Please see our FAQs page to read our cancellation policy and learn about scholarship options.  

What Previous Attendees Are Saying: 

” I learned so much from this webinar- Robin opened my eyes to how important it is to protect the desert’s soil, especially the cryptobiotic crust. I had no idea how important it is to the ecosystem.”

Bio: Robin Kobaly is a botanist and plant ecologist with expertise in plant communities across the American southwest. She is Executive Director of The SummerTree Institute (www.summertree.org), an environmental education nonprofit, and President and cofounder of The Power of Plants (www.powerofplants.com). Robin has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Biology and Plant Ecology from the University of California, Riverside, with three decades of experience in plant ecology, wildlife biology, land use management, aerial photo interpretation, and natural history interpretation. Her popular seminars and workshops examine the astonishing ages of ancient desert plants and their value to ecosystem sustainability, and explore the ethnobotanical and landscape uses of native plants, and the almost magical things happening underground in desert soils.