All articles tagged with #desertification
Farmers in Hungary's Great Hungarian Plain are combating desertification by using thermal spa overflow water to artificially flood land, aiming to raise groundwater levels and create microclimates to mitigate drought effects and promote vegetation growth amid increasing climate challenges.
China and Mongolia are engaged in efforts to combat dust storms and desertification, with China sharing its expertise and Mongolia hosting a UN conference on the issue, amid concerns over environmental degradation, climate change, and territorial sensitivities.
China has completed a 1,800-mile tree belt around the Taklamakan Desert, known as the 'Green Great Wall,' after 46 years of effort. This project, part of the Three-North Shelterbelt initiative, aims to combat desertification and improve air quality by reducing dust storms. Despite challenges like tree die-offs and ecological concerns, the initiative has increased China's forest coverage to 25% and reduced the Gobi Desert's size. Future plans include planting orchards to boost local economies.
A UN report warns that climate change has made 77.6% of Earth's land permanently drier over the past three decades, expanding drylands to cover 40.6% of the planet's land area. This trend threatens to affect up to five billion people by the century's end, leading to soil depletion, dwindling water resources, and ecosystem collapse. The report highlights the urgent need for global action to reduce carbon emissions, improve land and water management, and foster resilience to prevent widespread hunger, displacement, and economic decline.
A new review of current research into combating desertification has identified soil microbes as critical to this mission, as they play vital roles in promoting soil health, impacting ecosystem functions, and supporting sustainable land management. The research highlights the potential of soil microbes to alleviate the stresses of desertification by improving soil fertility, encouraging carbon sequestration, stabilizing soil against erosion, and supporting biodiversity. Strategic application of soil microbes in various regions has shown measurable impacts on alleviating desertification, offering hope for more natural and sustainable management of this significant environmental challenge.
The United Arab Emirates is leading the way in combating desertification and water scarcity by investing in green technology, including cloud seeding to enhance rainfall in the arid region. With approximately 80% of its land being desert, the country is making significant efforts to turn its arid landscapes green, despite receiving less than 200 mm of rainfall annually. This transformation is crucial in a region where 12 of the 17 most "water-stressed" countries are located, and the UAE's investments in cloud seeding research are a key part of this initiative.