The world is in the grip of pressing natural threats that may constitute a turning point in its history. Desertification is one such key challenge that is looming over the entire planet, and especially the Arab region, and that requires prompt and common action to reverse its effects or stop its course.
In 1994, the United Nations General Assembly declared June 17 the "World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought" to promote public awareness both of the issue, and of the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification. This day serves as a warning of the current dangers and a reminder of the work that still needs to be done in order to thwart them.
Arab Winds
According to the Regional Conference on Land Degradation Issues in the Arab Region, organized by UN-ESCWA on 30 October-1 November 2007 in Cairo, Egypt, most of the land resources in the Arab region suffer from desertification at different levels, due to various causes. The consequences on the environmental, economic and social facets are very grave. Ninety per cent of the Arab lands indeed lie in the hyper-arid and arid regions. In addition, the soil resources in the region are newly formed, poorly developed, of low fertility status and liable to various degradation factors. Water resources are scarce and represent one of the major constraints to sustainable development.
The factors of desertification in the Arab region include the processes of wind and water evasions, the loss of soil nutrients, the increase of salt contents of productive lands, deforestation, over-grazing, urban encroachment and pollution, among others. The combination of these elements leads to soil exhaustion, the reduction of productivity of the majority of lands. It also causes the loss of natural plant cover and of biodiversity.
2008 Theme: A Plan to Restore
National authorities, institutions, non-governmental organization and regional organizations in the Arab world have exerted much effort through the last two decades to combat desertification. Work focused on endorsing international conventions to fight desertification, formulating actions plans for their implementation, promoting the use of new technologies for the assessment and monitoring of desertification, conserving the plant cover and water resources, etc. However commendable, such efforts are still insufficient, and more needs to be done.
New initiatives in the matter of solution include reverting to old ways of harvesting. "Combating Land Degradation for Sustainable Agriculture" is one way, and it is the theme chosen to celebrate this day in 2008. The United Nations promotes sustainable agriculture as one way to reverse the damages suffered by the soil, and thwart the advance of desertification.
According to the UN website on this matter, sustainable agriculture refers to the ability of a farm to produce food indefinitely, without causing irreversible damage to ecosystem health. The issue is two-fold. One aspect is biophysical that relates to the long-term effects of various practices on soil properties and processes essential for crop productivity. The other is socio-economic that relates to the long-term ability of farmers to obtain inputs and manage resources such as labour.
The next 20 to 50 years are crucial for the world because speedy development is causing carbon emissions, rising sea levels, melting glaciers and increasing desertification, environmentalists have warned. The aim for the future is to forge a global partnership to reverse and prevent desertification/land degradation and to mitigate the effects of drought in affected areas in order to support poverty reduction and environmental sustainability.