How global desertification crisis can be slowed
Image of sand dunes advancing on Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, located near the northern west coast of Africa. A recent U.N. study says that 50 million people could lose their homes to encroaching deserts, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and central Asia. That’s about two-and-a-half New York Cities on the move. (NASA)
A new UN report calls desertification “an environmental crisis of global proportions.” Desertification is largely human caused, but according to the report, it can be slowed or stopped with the right blend of sustainable practices and policies.
Earth & Sky’s Lindsay Patterson spoke with Zafar Adeel, lead author on the report and Director of the UN University’s International Network on Water, Environment and Health. He said that although efforts to combat desertification have been going on for many years, the issue hasn’t been receiving the attention it needs to be effective.
