Journal of Earth Science & Climatic Change
Open Access

Abstract

Drylands have between 35% and 95% of deficit of water in their soils. If a permanent pluviometric deficit occurs, this phenomenon is called �aridity�, while �drought� is related to a temporary deficit. Drylands are also affected by several types of irregular droughts. As �desertification� is more related to drought than to aridity; combating desertification is managing drylands in view of their preservation or restoration. The SUMAMAD (Sustainable Management of Marginal Drylands) project was implemented by UNESCO�s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) Program together with the United Nations University-Institute for Water, Environment & Health (UNU-INWEH) and funded by Flanders, Belgium (2008-2014). The management of drylands was mainly done in sites of UNESCO-MAB reserves. A solar desalinization plant was built in the Omayed Biosphere Reserve in Egypt. Chicken farming in compacted grassland was carried out in the Hunshandake sand area of China. Deficit irrigation for quinoa production was applied in the southern Bolivian Altiplano. Community based grazing was managed in the drylands of the Dana Biosphere Reserve in Jordan. Arabic gum was produced and composting techniques were applied in the arid western plain zone of the Thar Desert in India. Agro-forestry and organic manure was used in the Mare aux Hippopotames Biosphere Reserve of Burkina Faso. Degraded dryland ranges were restored in the Lal Suhanra Biosphere of Pakistan. Flood water spreading was applied in the Gareh Bygone Plain of Iran. Reforestation with Acacia trees was done in the Bou Hedma Reserve of Tunisia. The projects and successful but also less successful results are described and discussed.

Biography

Email: donaldgabriels@gmail.com