World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought is held under the theme of respecting and protecting rangelands. This topic is becoming increasingly relevant amid the intensification of hot periods and droughts due to climate change, reports24KZ. One of the leading champions of the fight against desertification is our closest neighbor.
The main theme of Desertification and Drought Day is the conservation of rangelands. They occupy more than half of the world’s land surface and play a vital role in ensuring food and water security. However, up to half of all rangelands are already degraded or threatened. According to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, this poses risks to ecosystems and rural populations. Incidentally, the day itself was established by the UN General Assembly in 1994.

Yasmine Fouad, Executive Secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification:

“Pastures are vital for food, water, biodiversity, and climate resilience. By recognizing their value, respecting their traditional custodians, and restoring pastures, we can strengthen the livelihoods of two billion people.”

This year, Kenya will host the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. This will be the first time Africa has hosted a global event of this magnitude in nearly 10 years. UN experts note that climate change has made drought a serious global problem. Temperatures are rising, and hot spells are becoming longer. Forecasts are bleak: by 2050, droughts are expected to affect approximately 75% of the planet’s population.

Melissa Seabrook, climate scientist:

Over the next five years, we expect temperatures to be above average across almost the entire world, especially in the Northern Hemisphere and on land. The probability of exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels is 91%. The scientific community increasingly believes that the world will fail to meet the 1.5 degree threshold. Combating this requires extraordinary measures. It is critical to limit warming as much as possible.
Africa is one of the most drought-prone regions. Furthermore, expanding deserts threaten thousands of lives annually. In particular, the great and merciless Sahara Desert, which effectively divides Africa into north and south, is estimated to have expanded by 10% over the past century. To combat this phenomenon, the Great Green Wall of Africa initiative was created, encompassing more than 20 countries along the Sahel, where the desert transitions into fertile land. This long-term project, founded in the mid-2000s under the auspices of the UN, aims to replant 100 million hectares by 2030.
Melissa Seabrook, climate scientist:

The Sahel is a particularly interesting region because it has suffered from severe droughts over the past 30 years. Above-average rainfall in the Sahel points to a potential reduction in droughts. This could mean a more favorable growing season, but it could also increase the likelihood of flooding in this region, which typically receives little rainfall.
According to the UN, the project has been nearly 30% completed in two decades. The Great Green Wall is considered one of the most ambitious projects in the world. Ultimately, the planted green spaces are expected to absorb millions of tons of carbon annually and create 10 million jobs.

In this regard, it’s important to note that China is currently leading the fight against desertification. It is implementing some of the most effective programs for converting barren lands into forests and farmland. One of these, dubbed the Great Green Wall of China, aims to reduce the area of ​​the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts. These processes are only being modernized. Today, Chinese projects are incorporating modern technologies, such as drones. According to official statistics, China has planted approximately 78 billion trees in vulnerable regions. Thanks to these efforts, the country’s forest area has increased by 15% since the middle of the last century.
Lin Jiali, Director of the State Investment Company Department:

We use drones to transport trees, solar panels, and even extract fish from reservoirs. Traditional transportation methods required people and pack animals. Drones, however, help save on labor and, more importantly, ensure worker safety. We also use drones to inspect highways and national roads to prevent natural disasters.

However, environmentalists note that such radical landscaping efforts have not only positive effects on the climate and environment. A study published in Earth Future notes that new forest plantings in the Tibetan Plateau have led to a reduction in water supplies due to the trees’ consumption of water.

Источник: https://24.kz/ru/news/in-the-world/774854-kitaj-vysadil-78-mlrd-derevev-v-ramkakh-borby-s-pustynnymi-territoriyami
Любое использование материалов допускается только при наличии гиперссылки на 24.kz

Google machine translated