Growing Deserts a 'threat to millions'
Pastor Dale Morgan
Growing Deserts a 'threat to millions'*
Desertification represents the "greatest environmental challenge of our
times", the UN warns in a report.
UN issues desertification warning
By Matt McGrath
BBC environment reporter
Desertification could displace up to 50m people over the next decade
Tens of millions of people could be driven from their homes by
encroaching deserts, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Central
Asia, a report says.
The study by the United Nations University suggests climate change is
making desertification "the greatest environmental challenge of our times".
If action is not taken, the report warns that some 50 million people
could be displaced within the next 10 years.
The study was produced by more than 200 experts from 25 countries.
Scarce resources
This report does not pull any punches - desertification is an
environmental crisis of global proportions, it says, and one third of
the Earth's population are potential victims of its creeping effect.
Tree planting scheme in China
Tree planting schemes may put pressure on scarce water resources
It says that the over-exploitation of land and unsustainable irrigation
practices are making matters worse. Climate change was also a major
factor degrading the soil.
The UN report suggests that new farming practices, such as encouraging
forests in dry land areas, were simple measures that could remove more
carbon from the atmosphere and also prevent the spread of deserts.
Zafar Adeel, the lead author of the report, said: "It says to dry land
dwellers we need to provide alternative livelihoods - not the
traditional cropping based on irrigation, cattle farming, etcetera - but
rather introduce more innovative livelihoods which don't put pressure on
the natural resources.
"Things like ecotourism or using solar energy to create other activities."
Some countries like China have embarked on tree planting programmes to
stem the advance of deserts - but according to the author, in some cases
the trees being planted needed large amounts of water, putting even more
pressure on scarce resources.