One hundred countries in the world, including Greece, a third of whose territory is subject to a high potential risk are desertification numbers, according to data from the UN, which established June 17 as a global awareness day to address the phenomenon.
The numbers also say that by 2025, more than 1.8 billion people will be faced with the problem of a complete lack of water, while two-thirds of the planet will live with the anxiety of depleting reserves. They also say that desertification will cause more deaths than any other natural disaster and that because of the phenomenon more than 135 million people will be forced to leave their homes.
If there is a significant difference with the past it is the speed with which the phenomenon manifests itself. And in this dizzying speed, man has a primary role. "The characteristic of human-caused climate destabilization is that this destabilization manifests itself in a very short period of time. In the past, this change began and was completed over a period of thousands of years," explains Mr. Zerefos to APE-MPE.
“Today we know that there was a prolonged period of drought in the Bronze Age, which according to some scholars lasted thirty years and according to others even three hundred. It is the period when the Dorians came down from the North and occupied Argos and Mycenae to change the course of History" says the distinguished academic.
The eastern Peloponnese, which was then occupied by the Dorians, is considered high risk today. All the Aegean islands are still in red, as well as parts of Central Greece and Evia, as well as Thessaly, Macedonia, Thrace, as well as Central and Southeastern Crete.
Going back in time, other known droughts were the one that started around 100 AD, while another occurred during medieval times. “More recently, in the 1970s, a new period of drought began in Northwest Africa, which unfortunately continues to this day. From that area we had the first ecological refugees as due to the drought the desert expanded towards Savannah, says Christos Zerefos in APE-MPE.
-The heat brings drought and desertification, a threat to 40% of Greece |08/05/2021 | ERT
"We know that the water table in North Africa is going down and that in oases like Faran, in the Sinai Peninsula, where the water used to spring up from the ground - and I remember as a child - it is now more than 20 and 30 meters deep. The fact that this change occurs in a person's lifetime means a lot. The climate was always changing. But human intervention has exacerbated these changes and that's why we see these phenomena," he adds.
According to him, man is responsible for 30% to 35% of climate change. "If we don't do something soon, 70% and 80% will be responsible," Mr. Zerefos points out, speaking to APE-MPE.
-International Situation
The numbers also say that by 2025, more than 1.8 billion people will be faced with the problem of a total lack of water, while two-thirds of the planet will live with the anxiety of depleting reserves. They also say that desertification will cause more deaths than any other natural disaster and that because of the phenomenon more than 135 million people will be forced to leave their homes.
If there is a significant difference with the past it is the speed with which the phenomenon manifests itself.
And in this dizzying speed, man has a primary role.
"The characteristic of human-caused climate destabilization is that this destabilization manifests itself in a very short period of time.
-What History Says
“Today we know that there was a prolonged period of drought in the Bronze Age, which according to some scholars lasted thirty years and according to others even three hundred. It is the period when the Dorians came down from the North and occupied Argos and Mycenae to change the course of History," says the distinguished academic.
The eastern Peloponnese, which was then occupied by the Dorians, is considered high risk today. In the "red" are still all the islands of the Aegean, as well as parts of Central Greece and Evia, as well as Thessaly, Macedonia, Thrace, as well as Central and Southeastern Crete.
Going back in time, other known droughts were the one that started around 100 AD, while another occurred during medieval times.
An article on how to make fertile soil will follow. Stay tuned!
“More recently, in the 1970s, a new period of drought began in Northwest Africa, which unfortunately continues to this day. From that area we had the first ecological refugees as due to the drought the desert expanded towards the Savannah"
-The Future
A third of the Greek territories are subject to a high potential risk of "desertification", according to a UN survey.
"Desertification is a huge threat, especially for the Mediterranean basin," points out the academic, Christos Zerefos, speaking to the Athenian-Macedonian News Agency.
"This knowledge comes both from forecasting models for the next 70 to 80 years and from the past," he points out. As he reminds, the first to describe this phenomenon was Aristotle in his "Meteorologia".
"There he wonders how the Sahara became a desert. And it refers to a major climate change about the mechanisms of which it raises questions," he says.
One hundred countries in the world, including Greece, a third of whose territory is subject to a high potential risk are desertification numbers, according to data from the UN, which established June 17 as a global awareness day to address the phenomenon.
The numbers also say that by 2025, more than 1.8 billion people will be faced with the problem of a total lack of water, while two-thirds of the planet will live with the anxiety of depleting reserves. They also say that desertification will cause more deaths than any other natural disaster and that because of the phenomenon more than 135 million people will be forced to leave their homes.
If there is a significant difference with the past it is the speed with which the phenomenon manifests itself.
And in this dizzying speed, man has a primary role.
"The characteristic of human-caused climate destabilization is that this destabilization manifests itself in a very short period of time.
-What History Says
“Today we know that there was a prolonged period of drought in the Bronze Age, which according to some scholars lasted thirty years and according to others even three hundred. It is the period when the Dorians came down from the North and occupied Argos and Mycenae to change the course of History," says the distinguished academic.
The eastern Peloponnese, which was then occupied by the Dorians, is considered high risk today. In the "red" are still all the islands of the Aegean, as well as parts of Central Greece and Evia, as well as Thessaly, Macedonia, Thrace, as well as Central and Southeastern Crete.
Going back in time, other known droughts were the one that started around 100 AD, while another occurred during medieval times.
An article on how to make fertile soil will follow. Stay tuned!
“More recently, in the 1970s, a new period of drought began in Northwest Africa, which unfortunately continues to this day. From that area we had the first ecological refugees as due to the drought the desert expanded towards the Savannah"
-The Future
A third of the Greek territories are subject to a high potential risk of "desertification", according to a UN survey.
"Desertification is a huge threat, especially for the Mediterranean basin," points out the academic, Christos Zerefos, speaking to the Athenian-Macedonian News Agency.
"This knowledge comes both from forecasting models for the next 70 to 80 years and from the past," he points out. As he reminds, the first to describe this phenomenon was Aristotle in his "Meteorologia".
"There he wonders how the Sahara became a desert. And it refers to a major climate change about the mechanisms of which it raises questions," he says.
One hundred countries in the world, including Greece, a third of whose territory is subject to a high potential risk are desertification numbers, according to data from the UN, which established June 17 as a global awareness day to address the phenomenon.
-A third of Greece's land is at risk of "desertification".
"We know that the water table in North Africa is going down and that in oases like Faran, in the Sinai Peninsula, where the water used to spring up from the ground - and I remember as a child - it is now more than 20 and 30 meters deep. The fact that this change occurs in a person's lifetime means a lot. The climate was always changing. But human intervention has exacerbated these changes and that is why we see these phenomena,” he adds.
According to him, man is responsible for 30% to 35% of climate change.
"If we don't do something soon, he will be responsible for 70% and 80%" points out Mr. Zerefos.
By 2030, food production will require more than 300 million hectares of additional land. By 2030, the fashion industry is expected to use 35% more land, or more than 115 million hectares, equivalent to the size of Colombia. Over 70% of natural ecosystems have been disturbed. This number could rise to 90% by 2050.
According to him, man is responsible for 30% to 35% of climate change.
"If we don't do something soon, he will be responsible for 70% and 80%" points out Mr. Zerefos.
By 2030, food production will require more than 300 million hectares of additional land. By 2030, the fashion industry is expected to use 35% more land, or more than 115 million hectares, equivalent to the size of Colombia. Over 70% of natural ecosystems have been disturbed. This number could rise to 90% by 2050.
-What causes desertification? and What we can do
Desertification occurs when:
Trees and plants that hold soil together are removed for firewood and timber, or to clear land for cultivation.
The animals eat the grasses and erode the soil with their hooves.
Intensive cultivation depletes the nutrients in the soil.
Wind and water erosion compound the destruction, removing topsoil and leaving behind an extremely sterile mixture of dust and sand. The combination of these factors turns the degraded land into a desert.
-Effects of Desertification
The issue of desertification is not new - it has played an important role in human history, contributing to the collapse of several great empires and the displacement of local populations.
It is a global and perennial issue, with serious consequences for biodiversity, ecological security, poverty eradication, socio-economic stability and sustainable development.
Desertification in numbers
About 2.6 billion people are directly dependent on agriculture, but 52% of the land used for agriculture is moderately or severely affected by land degradation.
Due to drought and desertification, 120 million acres are lost each year (230 acres per minute). Within a year, 20 million tons of grain could have been grown.
74% of the poor are directly affected by land degradation worldwide.
Due to drought and desertification, 120 million acres are lost each year (230 acres per minute). Within a year, 20 million tons of grain could have been grown.
74% of the poor are directly affected by land degradation worldwide.
32 years of urbanization and climate change in a shocking timelapse
Biodiversity
- Of the 8,300 known animal breeds, 8% are extinct and 22% are at risk of extinction.
- Over 80% of human nutrition is provided by plants. Only three cereal crops - rice, maize and wheat - provide 60% of energy intake.
- 80% of people living in rural areas in developing countries rely on traditional herbal medicines for their basic health care.
Desertification and poverty
About two billion people depend on ecosystems in rural areas, 90% of whom live in developing countries.
What can be done?
- Reforestation and regeneration of trees.
- Water management - conservation, reuse of treated water, rainwater harvesting, desalination or direct use of seawater for salt-loving plants.
- Soil stabilization using sand fences, shelter belts and timber frames.
- Enrichment and super-fertilization of the soil through planting.
- The farmer manages natural regeneration through selective pruning. Pruning can be used in the fields thus increasing water retention in the soil and reducing evaporation.
All the islands of the Aegean, areas of Eastern Peloponnese, Central Greece and Evia, parts of Thessaly, Macedonia and Thrace, as well as 50% of the territory of Crete are classified among the "high risk" areas! Desertification "hits" Greece.
Desertification is defined as the degradation, the reduction of the depth and fertility of soil and vegetation. This practically translates into a reduction or even loss of productivity of agricultural and forest lands, mainly due to erosion. "The process of desertification has begun for good in our country and the situation will be irreversible, if immediate measures are not taken to combat it", argues the professor of soil science at the Agricultural University of Athens, Konstantinos Kosmas, speaking to Natura nrg.
Where is it due to?
- - Overpopulation and urban sprawl leading to a change in land use from forest to agricultural land or from agricultural land to urban use.
- - The development of road arteries and other facilities that disrupts the geomorphology of many areas.
- - Unacceptable agricultural practices, such as intensive cultivation, excessive use of fertilizers and over-extraction of groundwater.
- - The excessive exploitation and destruction of forests due to fires, overgrazing and excessive logging.
But apart from the destruction of the environment, desertification has serious social and economic consequences. ''If the soil does not yield, it immediately reduces the production for the farmers and thus reduces their income. Less production means higher prices for all of us, but also massive population movements. How can one live in a desert area?'' notes Konstantinos Kosmas.
Which areas are threatened?
Based on the measurements of the Hellenic Commission to combat desertification...- 34% of the areas of our country are considered high risk
- - 49% moderate risk
- - 17% low risk
The lands of the regions of Central Greece and the Ionian Islands are at lesser risk. The threat of desertification is negligible for lowland areas with very well-drained and deep soils.
Global threat
The phenomenon is not limited to the known deserts, but threatens many regions of the earth both warm and cold (such as Iceland). It is one of the most important problems facing the Mediterranean region. A typical example is China, where the area of desertified lands amounts to 1/4 of the land territory, i.e. 1.73 million square kilometers. Because of climate change, China's problem is expected to increase. Scientists estimate that only 530,000 square kilometers of them can be reclaimed as fertile soil.
At a press conference in Beijing, Liu Tuo, head of desertification recovery efforts, did not hide his disappointment:
''I cannot hide my sadness at the low investment available to fight one of the most serious environmental problems. At the current rate of recovery of square kilometers per year, I estimate it will take us 300 years to turn things around.''
Worldwide, soil erosion, especially agricultural land, affects at least 10% of cultivated land, which is about 1.5 billion hectares (1 hectare = 10 acres). Additionally, 10% of cultivated land has some degree of erosion that can become destructive. Unless of course drastic measures to correct the corrosion are taken.
Conventions and inaction
Recognizing the seriousness of the problem, the United Nations established June 17 as World Desertification Day. The International Convention to Combat Desertification and Drought was signed in 1994, while Greece adopted it in 2000. Our country proceeded with a "National Action Plan against Desertification" which of course was never implemented. One only has to take a look at page 33 of the ''National Plan'' where the measures to deal with the phenomenon are specified. A decade later, we're still at ground zero…
Eroding soils...are not "healed"
There is no magic potion that will "heal" eroding soils. But there are measures that can be taken, with the aim of gradually repairing the damage that has been done. Human activities play a decisive role in soil degradation, starting with catastrophic forest fires. From these we reach over-intensive cultivation and the excessive use of fertilizers that "poison" the soil. So if we change our mentality and practices, the desertification of the soil will be significantly reduced, without of course being eliminated. Unfortunately, however, the deep economic crisis acts as an alibi and thus any effort aimed at protecting the environment and improving the quality of life is characterized as a "luxury". But we are in danger that in a few years the phrase of the Prophet Isaiah "a voice of shouting in the wilderness" will become our new reality.
And yet There is a solution
"However, in areas such as Crete and Corinth the underground water is being pumped faster than it can be restored naturally. This means that not only the stocks are reduced but at the same time the seawater "contaminates" the whole stock".
Especially for small islands, the article proposes the application of the desalination technique as a solution . "Greece already has the capacity to produce 20,000 cubic meters of fresh water per day using this method, with the government preparing to expand the number of small-scale such plants in order for each island to be completely self-sufficient in terms of water supply," the article states. in which special mention is made of a unit on the island of Strogyli which, taking energy from the sun, produces 5 km. water per day but also in two units in Kastellorizos which produce 400 sq.m. water per day with a production cost at 1/5 of the transport of a corresponding amount of water by water tanker.
National Geographic Research: Greece is at risk of desertification
"However, in areas such as Crete and Corinth the underground water is being pumped faster than it can be restored naturally. This means that not only the stocks are reduced but at the same time the seawater "contaminates" the whole stock".
Especially for small islands, the article proposes the application of the desalination technique as a solution . "Greece already has the capacity to produce 20,000 cubic meters of fresh water per day using this method, with the government preparing to expand the number of small-scale such plants in order for each island to be completely self-sufficient in terms of water supply," the article states. in which special mention is made of a unit on the island of Strogyli which, taking energy from the sun, produces 5 km. water per day but also in two units in Kastellorizos which produce 400 sq.m. water per day with a production cost at 1/5 of the transport of a corresponding amount of water by water tanker.
However, Athens may also face a problem in the next 30 years, according to the author of the article, with the increase in demand moving at a rate of 6% per year "not only due to the increase in population but also due to the increase in houses with" thirsty" gardens".
The article, however, is not limited to the findings, but it also describes proposals for reducing water consumption in households, which account for 14% of consumption - as much as 177 liters per day per person. A shorter shower can save you 12 liters of water per minute, while despite the fact that double faucets have been adopted, there is still an amount of 9 liters per push in each use. Dishwashers use about 8 liters instead of 60 liters for hand washing.
The article, however, is not limited to the findings, but it also describes proposals for reducing water consumption in households, which account for 14% of consumption - as much as 177 liters per day per person. A shorter shower can save you 12 liters of water per minute, while despite the fact that double faucets have been adopted, there is still an amount of 9 liters per push in each use. Dishwashers use about 8 liters instead of 60 liters for hand washing.
National Geographic points out the need for Greece to take measures to ensure its "water" future. This is due to the fact that Greece is in 26th place on the list of countries facing water shortage problems. This element combined with climate change brings closer the risk that 30% of Greece's surface will become desert in the coming decades. Overall Greece has one of the best rates of water supply per capita among the Mediterranean countries but rainfall varies significantly throughout the territory. According to the data, while the western regions are relatively wet and their mountains record 85 inches of rain per year, other areas barely reach 15 inches. "This imbalance brings areas such as Attica, Thessaloniki and the islands of the southern Aegean facing the possibility of shortages. And climate change will make things worse," Jon Heggie's article for National Geographic states. The editor notes that by 2050 the temperature in Greece could increase by 2 degrees Celsius with 18% less rainfall. "The periods of drought may become more frequent and more intense while the "recharge" of the water table, on which Greece relies, will continue to decrease" it is characteristically mentioned and it is pointed out that in our country more than 40% of the drinking water comes from the underground water table. "However, in areas such as Crete and Corinth, groundwater is being pumped faster than it can be restored naturally. This means that not only the stocks are reduced but at the same time the seawater "contaminates" the whole stock" the article adds.
Desertification is the process of extreme, usually irreversible, land degradation in arid, semi-arid and humid regions. Irrigated and non-irrigated agricultural land, grasslands, pastures, forests and woodlands are losing their biological and economic productivity and complexity (UNCCD 1994). The conversion of fertile lands into desert, with man as the main culprit, seriously affects over 100 countries in the world. It causes depletion of available water reserves, soil erosion and landslides, as well as floods. 200 countries of the world are coordinating their actions to combat the phenomenon, through the UN. In this direction, June 17 was established as World Day against Desertification.
According to the latest figures, about 2.6 billion people are directly dependent on agriculture, but 52% of the land used for agriculture is moderately or severely affected by land degradation. Due to drought and desertification, 120 million acres are lost each year (230 acres per minute). Within a year, 20 million tons of grain could have been grown. 74% of the poor are directly affected by land degradation worldwide. Of 8,300 animal species, 8% are extinct and 22% are at risk of extinction. Over 80% of human nutrition is provided by plants. Only three cereal crops - rice, maize and wheat - provide 60% of energy intake. 80% of people living in rural areas in developing countries rely on traditional herbal medicines for their basic health care.
National Geographic:Greece is at risk of desertification National Geographic points out the need for Greece to take measures to ensure its "water" future. This is due to the fact that Greece is in 26th place on the list of countries facing water shortage problems. This element combined with climate change brings closer the risk that 30% of Greece's surface will become desert in the coming decades. Overall Greece has one of the best per capita water supply rates among Mediterranean countries but rainfall varies significantly across the territory, the magazine points out. The map from the Agricultural University of Athens in 2011, for naturanrg.gr According to the data, while the western regions are relatively wet and their mountains record 85 inches of rain a year, other areas barely reach 15 inches. "This imbalance brings areas such as Attica, Thessaloniki and the islands of the southern Aegean facing the possibility of shortages. And climate change will make things worse," Jon Heggie's article for National Geographic states. The editor notes that by 2050 the temperature in Greece could increase by 2 degrees Celsius with 18% less rainfall. "The periods of drought may become more frequent and more intense while the "recharge" of the water table, on which Greece relies, will continue to decrease" it is characteristically mentioned and it is pointed out that in our country more than 40% of the drinking water comes from the underground water table. "However, in areas such as Crete and Corinth, groundwater is being pumped faster than it can be restored naturally. This means that not only the stocks are reduced but at the same time the seawater "contaminates" the whole stock" the article adds. Especially for small islands, the article proposes as a solution the application of the desalination technique. "Greece already has the capacity to produce 20,000 cubic meters of fresh water per day using this method, with the government preparing to expand the number of small-scale such plants in order for each island to be completely self-sufficient in terms of water supply," the article states. in which special mention is made of a unit on the island of Strogyli which, taking energy from the sun, produces 5 km. water per day but also in two units in Kastellorizos which produce 400 sq.m. water per day with a production cost at 1/5 of the transport of a corresponding amount of water by water tanker. However, Athens may also face a problem in the next 30 years, according to the author of the article, with the increase in demand moving at a rate of 6% per year "not only due to the increase in population but also due to the increase in houses with" thirsty" gardens". However, the articleit does not stay only with the findings but it also describes proposals for reducing water consumption in households which account for 14% of consumption - almost 177 liters per day per person. A shorter shower can save you 12 liters of water per minute, while despite the fact that double faucets have been adopted, there is still an amount of 9 liters per push in each use. Dishwashers use about 8 liters instead of 60 liters for hand washing.
National Geographic - Desertification and food security : As noted in an article by Ef. Syn. (15/6), its interrelated generative forces are planetary biophysical changes (bio-geochemical cycles, climate, atmosphere, waters), demand for land (and water) from a growing world population, economic and socio-cultural changes (globalization, urbanization, consumerism, land commodification, immigration), and flawed institutional frameworks for regulating human-environment relations from the global to the local level. The availability of productive land critically affects food security, the state "where all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and dietary preferences for a healthy and active life (FAO 1996). In the globalized world, food security depends on production adequacy, food, fuel and input prices, income and the functioning of the food/supply chain. The measures to deal with the coronavirus pandemic disrupted this chain and revealed, on the one hand, the interdependence of countries for imports/exports of raw materials, labor and products and, on the other hand, the pivotal role of international trade (also important for pandemics), of transport and fuel prices. Thus the importance of local/national food self-sufficiency was highlighted. With sufficient food production, the following were proposed (and/or implemented): export bans (protectionism, food nationalism), creation of food reserves/banks (mainly food staples), and creation of labor pools. Insufficient food production (for other reasons), would exacerbate the problem of food security.
National Geographic - Answers : Extensive and long-term scientific research supports - according to the publication - that dealing with desertification requires coordinated actions from the global to the local level aimed at both the demand side for land and the supply side, proper land logistics, with main public policies, Sustainable Land Management and spatial planning. Public policies must provide frameworks for the environmentally and socially beneficial operation of economic activities in the area. The degree of their integration and coordination (policy integration) critically affects their effectiveness. Sustainable land management combines modern and traditional technologies and practices to (a) prevent degradation and improve resource quality (land improvement projects), (b) mitigate the impacts of activities and adapt to environmental and socio-economic changes (good land use practices resources), (c) restoration of degraded areas (afforestation, reforestation, land restoration). Its multiple short-term and long-term benefits include: halting/reducing land degradation, reducing agrochemical and water use, improving soil health and carbon sequestration capacity contributing to increased soil productivity and production and coping with of global warming. Xerothermal regions store about 25% of organic and almost all inorganic carbon (MEA 2005). Due to desertification, 300 million tons of carbon are lost every year. In the period 1980-2003, about one billion tons of carbon was not sequestered in the soil due to degradation, an amount almost equal to the annual carbon emissions of Europe (GBO-3 2010). Under one scenario, restoring 12 million hectares of degraded land per year would potentially reduce the greenhouse gas emissions deficit by 25%. However, the carbon sequestration capacity of soil is underestimated in the climate negotiations (UNCCD 2007). Finally, spatial planning, adopting an ecosystem-based approach, indicates the 'mix' of economic activities (type and size), and the corresponding land uses, appropriate to the characteristics of an area, as well as the material-technical, spatial , development and institutional means to achieve environmental, economic and social goals. At the national level, strategic spatial planning prioritizes controlling land degradation/desertification and ensuring food security and self-sufficiency to reduce dependence on volatile external factors (climate, raw materials, labor, capital). At the regional and especially at the local level, the multi-functional land use (multi-functional land use) – a mixture of compatible and complementary activities and land uses (e.g.agriculture with soft tourism) – applying sustainable practices and local management systems (local participation, traditional land resource management know-how), pursues regional/local food self-sufficiency (zero-distance production and consumption), protection of land resources and socio-economic prosperity. The solutions that are preferred in practice, however, depend on the political priorities of those who have power and decision-making authority. The example of Greece is indicative but not unique.
Source: APE - BEE / Journalistic editing: Dim. Frangouliotis
https://geography.aegean.gr/files/labs/book_georgios_fotis.pdf
https://fmenr.duth.gr/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Protection_areas2022_tampakis.pdf
Posts
