According to United Nation’s Development Program’s 2009 Arab Human Development Report, desertification is threatening around one-fifth of the MENA region. In red, the areas with the highest vulnerability that enclose the existing deserts, in grey colour. The Arabian Desert Covering a large part of the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates and Yemen, the Arabian Desert consists of Rub al Khali -one of largest continuous bodies of sand in the world. Climate models predict a hotter, drier and less predictable climate for the Middle East region, and degradation and desertification are expected to accelerate due to global warming. “They include overgrazing, overcultivating, deforestation and … These cookies do not store any personal information. For example, dust storms in the Middle East “are becoming more frequent and intense in recent years” because “long-term reductions in rainfall promot[ing] lower soil moisture and vegetative cover”. Good progress has been achieved, particularly in Kenya where swarms are no longer arriving from the north. Combating desertification is an integral part of sustainable development in the MENA region, which can be achieved by ensuring participation of civil society, implementation of modern water management techniques and use of traditional knowledge. Desertification in areas where traditional pastoral nomadism was common is a phenomenon of this century. Active participation of all stakeholders, implementation of modern techniques and more research initiatives are required to mitigate land degradation. Libyan Desert (also called Western Desert) – a desert covering eastern Libya, western Egypt and northwestern Sudan at the west of the Nile River White Desert – a desert covering a part of western Egypt and located in Farafra, Egypt Eastern Desert – a desert covering eastern Egypt and northeastern Sudan between the Nile River and the Red Sea Around 48.6 per cent of the land area in the Mashreq, 28.6 per cent in the Nile Valley and the Horn of Africa, 16.5 per cent in North Africa and 9 per cent in the Arabian Peninsula is endangered on account of desertification. Climate change and desertification is a global problem, and Turkey and the Middle East region are among the mostly affected areas of the world. However, because they are rarely visited means more desert for you to explore without all of the problems that come with crowded tourist destinations. Abstract. Desertification is a worldwide phenomenon afflicting countries all over the world. According to United Nation’s Development Program’s 2009 Arab Human Development Report, desertification is threatening around one-fifth of the MENA region. Nearly two-thirds of the Middle East and North Africa is desert. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The Middle East and North Africa are one of the driest regions on earth. First the Bedouin were forced to move east. Nor can you find Arabian desert plants and animals anywhere else like you can find in the deserts of the Middle East. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. As the desert is located in Asia and the rest of Egypt is located in North Africa, the Sinai Desert makes a natural land bridge between two continents. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The United Nation’s Development Program’s 2009 Arab Human Development Report said desertification threatened close to 1.15 million square miles of land. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. And who can forget the desert tales of 1001 Arabian nights or the fascinating desert stories of Lawrence of Arabia. During and after the World War II, it has been used to define a region covering all the Arab states of southwest Asia, including Turkey, Iran, Palestine and Cyprus. Continuing land degradation has severe environmental, economic and social implications that could negatively affect the socio-economic and political stability of the region. According to a 2011 report published in the Middle East Journal of Scientific Research, an estimated 68.4 percent of the total area of the Arab world is arid. Even with that vision, the desert is a breathtaking sight. BioEnergy Consult Dry areas are home to 2.5 billion people, cover more than 40% of the world’s land surface and have to sustain on less than 8% of the world’s renewable water resources. This definition is now widely regarded to be most authoritative definition of desertification. Your email address will not be published. The desert is making a comeback in the Middle East, with fertile lands turning into barren wastes. The human population growth rate is 2.3% annually, which is among the highest worldwide (Abahussain et al. Covering a large part of the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, United Arab Emirates and Yemen, the Arabian Desert consists of Rub al Khali -one of largest continuous bodies of sand in the world. Desertification in the arid regions of Asia is characterized by overgrazing of the rangelands of the Middle East and Central Asia, water erosion of cultivated lands from eastern China to the Mediterranean Sea, and salinization and waterlogging on a large scale in Iraq, Pakistan, China, and the Soviet Union. The history of erosion, desertification and salinization as a result of badly planned irrigation schemes is described. Scientists propose 10 golden rules for restoring forests to maximise benefits for the planet. Combating Desertification in Asia, Africa and the Middle East: Proven Practices. The term “Middle East” has no standard definition. Environmental stress associated with desertification is a dynamic process with various levels of intensity. The increase of organic matter is the main factor of avoiding the desertification of the soils. Researchers agree that Arabic learning apps are the best way to learn Arabic and Arabic dialects, and there’s no better app available to help you learn than the Kaleela Arabic learning app. Climate Change Mitigation in Tunisia: Challenges and Progress | EcoMENA, Role of Internet of Things in Sustainable Development | EcoMENA, Water Security in the Arab World | EcoMENA, Introduction to Mediterranean Youth Climate Network (MYCN) | Cleantech Solutions, Environmental Impacts of Industrialization, 15 Inspirational Quotes On The Environment, Egypt's Water Crisis - Recipe for Disaster, Innovative Trends Increase Appeal Of Sustainable Housing, Women and the Environment: Perspectives from Arabia, التأثيرات الإجتماعية والإقتصادية للتغير المناخي على الصحة الإنجابية للإناث, أدنى بقعة في العالم تنتج أكبر طاقة شمسية في فلسطين, Plastic Pollution: The Search for a Sustainable Solution, 10 Basic Things Every Car Owner Should Know, 4 Things You’ve Never Thought of That Can Help the Environment, Water Leakage Control: Effective Tool for Water Conservation, هل مياه الشرب المعبأة ملوثة بجزيئات الميكروبلاستيك, 5 Ways Eco-Friendly Sleep Can Help You Achieve Good Health, Wastewater Treatment Process and its Benefits, السيناريوهات الزراعية في منطقة الشرق الأوسط, Environmental Awareness in Arab Countries: A Survey, Gaza Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture Platform (GUPAP): Driving Agriculture in Gaza. Moreover, the Arab countries have established science institutions, such as Arab Centre for the Study of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ASCAD) and International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), which are capable of addressing conservation and development of natural resources in arid lands. We hope these Arabian desert facts change your mind about vast brown landscape sand you get a chance to visit these deserts for the breathtaking journeys that they really are. The desert is making a comeback in the Middle East, with fertile lands turning into barren wastes. This process is referred to as “desertification”. The increase of desertification has also increased the amount of loose sand and dust that the wind can pick up ultimately resulting in a storm. The swarms that are currently present in northern and central areas are smaller and much less numerous than one year ago. According to United Nation’s Development Program’s 2009 Arab Human Development Report, desertification is threatening around one-fifth of the MENA region. Desertification in the Middle East is caused mainly by four human actions that are linked to farming and agriculture. Additionally, decision makers, governments, researchers, and stakeholder should focus on synergies between the three Rio conventions (Climate Change, Biodiversity and UNCCD), and integration on sector levels e.g., water, energy and food security, and explore relationship between development sectors and natural resources. Thanks for the good overview. A FAO analysis estimates that 90% of the total Middle East and North Africa (MENA) land area lying within arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas, and 45% of the total agricultural area is exposed to salinity, soil nutrient depletion and wind-water erosion. Deserts Much of the Middle East is hot and arid. Nomads possessed institutions and management practices that avoided excess concentrations of people and animals, rotated grazing pressure seasonally between major pasture zones, protected dry season resources that were critical to their survival, and limited access to pastoral resources. The Sahara Desert stretches across norhern Africa and continues as the Arabian and Syrian Deserts in Asia and then … We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Most of the MENA countries have ratified UNCCD convention, and are revising earlier plans or preparing new national strategies, action plans, and integrated financing strategies to combat desertification. I’m quite sure it’s not lush forests or oceans blue; rather the first thing you thought of was the desert, right? Located in Egypt, the Sinai Desert is the famous desert that hosted Moses and his people for 40 years after they crossed the Red Sea. Required fields are marked *. The actual efforts and resources devoted to combating desertification are less than that required to the tackle the growing problem. The country’s Desert Locust Control Centre issued a warning on 18 April that many desert locusts in the country had reached their flying adult phase, while the remaining juveniles could do likewise in a matter of weeks. Truly, visiting the deserts can be a unique and beautifully satisfying travel experience. Blogging Junction Immature swarms persist in East Africa. The natural vegetation of the Middle East and its degradation as a result of human activities are described. Thanks for the overview Maha. These areas are further challenged by extreme temperatures, frequent drought, land degradation and desertification. The desert hosts a range of features from red dunes to quicksand, as well as creatures like gazelles, oryx, sand cats, and spiny tailed lizards. Once military rule was lifted in … The increase of desertification has also increased the amount of loose sand and dust that the wind can pick up ultimately resulting in a storm. First the Bedouin were forced to move east. The desert is making a comeback in the Middle East, with fertile lands turning into barren wastes. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The Middle East is an area widely popular destination for many tourists due to its numerous beautiful towers and infrastructure. Among MENA countries, the countries facing the greatest dangers are Libya, Egypt and Jordan. Most of the orange areas, categorised as high vulnerability ones, are adjacent to the red areas; this has a special significance south of the Sahel strip (mainly in red) and in vast areas of the Middle East. Sub-Saharan Africa is drying up, as are regions of Turkey that were once rich agricultural lands. Also called the Western Desert, the Libyan Desert covers eastern Libya, western Egypt and parts of northwestern Sudan near the Nile River. Thanks for the report. During the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, the world’s leaders adopted the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and agreed on the desertification definition as “Land degradation in arid, semi-arid and sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities”. For example, dust storms in the Middle East “are becoming more frequent and intense in recent years” because “long-term reductions in rainfall promot[ing] lower soil moisture and vegetative cover”. Organized and concerted efforts are required at global, regional and national levels to help populations most affected by desertification. Berliner is one of the world’s leading dryland agriculture experts and Israel’s representative to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Options available for combating desertification (improving knowledge, more land-conscious policies and governance, better water management, water-efficient cropping systems, supplementary feed sources for livestock and diversifying crops) are considered. The pressures promoting desertification include agricultural expansion into pastoral zones, the loss of critical dry season pasture, sedentarization of former nomads, the impacts of war and civil conflict, nationalization of pastoral resources, the collapse of traditional common property resource management systems, and social change and economic intensification. Due to climate change as well as growing populations and poor resource management, whole areas in the Middle East are transforming from once-fertile ground into barren wasteland. The major input factors that act as key drivers for regional environmental change include recurrent drought, land degradation, natural resources depletion, variable population growth, increased temperature, decline in precipitation, scarcity of water for potable consumption and irrigation, progressive soil erosions and salinization etc. There has been a 25% increase in global annual dust emissions between the late nineteenth century to present day. The Sahara Desert of northern Africa is the largest desert in the world. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The soil in these areas are mostly sand as … Here are just a few you can visit: The largest desert in the world, and surely the world’s most well known desert, the Sahara covers a huge swath of North Africa. A desert is land that receives an average of less than ten inches of rain per year. When people think of Middle East deserts, vast brown landscapes come to mind. Guest Posts Hub If you would like to learn more about Arab dunes, Arab culture, or even just want to learn to speak Arabic before you go to make your journey even more pleasant, why not try our Arabic learning app? After John baptized him, Jesus went into the desert for 40 days. You’re not alone in that because when people think about going on vacation, they don’t think about deserts, but they imagine a cabin in the woods or a vacation home by the sea. The Mars of the Middle East Soak in the vast desert landscape of Wadi Rum, broken only by sandstone pillars and large goat-hair tents of the Bedouin tribes … Its wind strength can reach that of a hurricane, creating massive sandstorms. How Effective Are Language Learning Apps? Here are some destinations in the Middle East very well suited for enjoyable safaris: Jordan Jordan is a safe and […] The Sahara Desert stretches across norhern Africa and continues as the Arabian and Syrian Deserts in Asia and then … We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. The Middle East is an area widely popular destination for many tourists due to its numerous beautiful towers and infrastructure. The long period of human settlement has had a cumulative impact on the environment. Control operations continue in Ethiopia and Kenya against swarms that are still immature. It is also home to destinations for desert tours available to visitors to organize Safaris. Besides the flora and the fauna, some of the deserts in the Middle East are rich in a unique history. Then Israeli military rule was imposed, requiring them to get permission to go anywhere. Desertification is a worldwide phenomenon afflicting countries all over the world. The Council of Arab Ministers of Environment has prioritized the issues of drylands with the establishment of a workforce of experts to set frameworks of regional programs of collaborative actions. Desertification and Water Harvesting in the Middle East and North Africa 3 1 Introduction New deserts are forming in some areas of the world (UNEP, 1984). There have been great efforts by regional governments and international organizations to tackle the menace of desertification; however the situation is worsening with each passing year. Raising awareness among both local communities and decision-makers is crucial in the fight against desertification. Despite the fact that most MENA countries have appropriate technologies to combat desertification, there is stark neglect in use of such technologies due to lack of awareness and mismanagement of natural resources, water in particular. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. These plants has the ability of surviving in the very dry conditions of soil and hot climate. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. The features of the Arabian Desert vary from red dunes to quicksand, and here you can also find all sorts of animals like gazelles, oryx, sand cats, and spiny tailed lizards. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It’s free from kaleela.com. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Copyright © 2020, Kaleela, All rights reserved, A SHORT LIST OF DESERTS OF THE MIDDLE EAST. 2002). The important repercussions of desertification for the MENA region are poverty, food insecurity, forced displacement, migration and disruption of social and political institutions. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window). Most actions dealing with desertification, particularly in the MENA region, are monitoring exercises concerned with evaluating the damage and/ loss attributable to desertification. Civil war in Syria is the result of the desertification of the ecologically fragile Syrian steppe, writes Gianluca Serra - a process that began in 1958 when the former Bedouin commons were opened up to unrestricted grazing. The location is tough to beat for a wild desert experience; lots of exploration options, from jeep tours to camel rides Infact, degradation of drylands, affects some 70 percent of land in the Arab region, according to the Arab Centre for the Study of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD). Desertification is a worldwide phenomenon afflicting countries all over the world. Five of the Top Foreign Languages to Learn in 2021, Seven Benefits of Learning Arabic Through an Arabic Learning App, Arab Foods and Hot Drinks That Will Give You the Cozy Feels All Winter, 6 Arabic Resources for Beginners For Learning to Read Arabic, A Complete Beginner’s Guide to the Alphabet in Arabic, Corporate Arabic Language Learning for the Success of Your Company, Five Arabic Games That Might Seem A Little Familiar, Arabic Explained: 20 Things You May Not Know About Arabic. Our app includes all the needs of a beginner or advanced student that wishes to learn Arabic online: courses for Arabic letters,Modern Standard Arabic and Arabic Dialects, clear and precise audios, exercises for pronunciation training,based on the 5 skills of learning and available in several languages. Blogging Hub. Read "Combating Desertification in Asia, Africa and the Middle East Proven practices" by available from Rakuten Kobo. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! This article briefly examines the threat of desertification in the Middle East and North Africa. Mobilization of national and regional inputs is an urgent need of the hour. For most people, the term conjures up an image, an emotive picture of inexorably shifting sands encroaching on valuable farmland ( Forse 1989). Combating Desertification in Asia, Africa and the Middle East Proven practicesThis book of 21 chapters is about the 'how' of desertification control as opposed to an analysis of the 'why' and fills a gap in the desertification-related literature in that it shows what to do in situations ranging from fixing mobile sands to arresting accelerated soil erosion in sloping lands. 2002). The desert is making a comeback in the Middle East, with fertile … Civil war in Syria is the result of the desertification of the ecologically fragile Syrian steppe, writes Gianluca Serra - a process that began in 1958 when the former Bedouin commons were opened up to unrestricted grazing. Government agencies, alongwith non-governmental bodies, can play a pivotal role in developing national and regional programs and implementing field projects. According to Famiglietti, the Middle East is one of the world’s top hotspots in … One of the most important plants is the Aloe genus, with more than 300 species. Africa is the continent most affected by desertification, and one of the most obvious natural borders on the landmass is the southern edge of the Sahara desert.The countries that lie on the edge of the Sahara are among the poorest in the world, and they are subject to periodic droughts that devastate their peoples. Places including Iraq, Iran, Kuwait and most of Syria and Jordan are mostly arid and are in the middle of final stages of desertification. Parched earth: Scientists combat desertification in Middle East. According to a 2011 report published in the Middle East Journal of Scientific Research, an estimated 68.4 percent of the total area of the Arab world is arid. When you think of the traveling to the Middle East, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Then Israeli military rule was imposed, requiring them to get permission to go anywhere. Once military rule was lifted in … Here are some destinations in the Middle East very well suited for enjoyable safaris: Jordan Jordan is a safe and […] Pingback: Climate Change Mitigation in Tunisia: Challenges and Progress | EcoMENA, Pingback: Role of Internet of Things in Sustainable Development | EcoMENA, Pingback: Water Security in the Arab World | EcoMENA, Pingback: Introduction to Mediterranean Youth Climate Network (MYCN) | Cleantech Solutions, Pingback: Climate Change Impacts in GCC | EcoMENA, Your email address will not be published. While UNCCD is an agreement between developed and developing countries to ensure global action to combat desertification, it also includes specific national commitments for concrete action. Most Arab countries have insufficient water resources, and this makes the region especially vulnerable to desertification and drought. It is also home to destinations for desert tours available to visitors to organize Safaris. Its highest point is the 11,204 foot (3,415 meters) summit of Mount Koussi in Chad’s Tibesti Mountains, while its lowest point is Qattara Depression of Egypt at 436 feet (133 meters) below sea level. According to Famiglietti, the Middle East is one of the world’s top hotspots in terms of freshwater loss. China is experiencing desertification at an alarming rate – as much as 1,300 square miles each year. The action plans involve long-term integrated strategies for improved productivity of land coupled with rehabilitation, conservation and sustainable management of land and water resources, at national as well as community level. Desertification became well known in the 1930's, when parts of the Great Plains in the United States turned into the "Dust Bowl" as a result of drought and poor practices in farming, although the term itself was not used until almost 1950. In the Arabian Peninsula, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE are the most affected countries. Deserts Much of the Middle East is hot and arid. When fragile land in arid regions is overexploited by the demands of an expanding population, it loses its productive capacity. Moses is said to have wondered around the desert with his people for 40 years. I think some plant species can contribute with the regeneration of soils. Photo credit: SciDevNet. Thanks Ruba and AbdulAziz for the comments! Most Arab countries have insufficient water resources, and this makes the region especially vulnerable to desertification and drought. On the menu, Middle Eastern cuisine is served to the soundtrack of oud- and rababah-playing; local dish zarb – a whole lamb cooked in the sand – is a must-try. Nowhere else in the world can you find the siroccos creating the unique patterns of the dunes. Most of the territories of the MENA region fall within the boundaries of arid lands. “Desertification in the Middle East is caused mainly by four human actions linked to farming and agriculture,” Francis said. I have a solution, however it requires leadership, a vision and some financial backing. Every year 12 million hectares of land are lost to desertification, and the rate is increasing at an alarming pace. Prof. Jay Famiglietti is executive director of the Global Institute for Water Security at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Canada. Actually part of the Sahara Desert, it is primarily, like the Sahara, sand or stony plains and is hottest of all Arabian desert climates with little or no rainfall for decades. Visit our website and find out how you can download the Kaleela Arabic learning app to your IOS or Android mobile device and start to learn Arabic language skills today. Locust plague in the Middle East . This is a fifth of the Middle East … Learn how your comment data is processed. Quick! Well expressed Maha. However, the awesome beauty of Arabian deserts makes them worth a visit, too. Ninety percent of the Arab region of the Middle East lies within arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas (Abahussain et al.