01 Sep 2006
by David A. Nuttle
Deserts are formed by natural processes over long time intervals, and this process is expected to continue. Desertification, however, occurs when human activity stresses formerly productive land beyond tolerance limits. Land abuse during droughts, poor farming practices, excessive grazing, destruction of plants for use as firewood, heavy livestock traffic, and/or extensive off-road vehicle use all contribute to desertification.

Global population pressures, as well as local or regional shortages of water, food, and energy now demand immediate action to first halt and then reverse desertification, worldwide. If we fail to do so, our environment will be further damaged --and the many burdens of poverty will greatly increase for populations living in arid regions. Under conditions of increasing poverty, these impoverished peoples may release frustrations by providing more recruits and support for terrorist and narcoterrorist organizations.

The following actions will be promoted/ utilized, by Needful Provision, Inc. (NPI), as part of a global effort to effectively reverse desertification:
1) Harvesting and storage of rain water for use in providing drip-irrigation for tree
fences and grass belts.
2) Planting of desert shrubs, primarily Jatropha curcus, on the lower one-third of a
desert dune’s windward side(s) to stabilize sand dunes. Since the Jatropha nuts average 37 percent lipids, the nuts produced by these shrubs may be harvested to make biodiesel fuel ---and the solids remaining (press cake) make a good compost fertilizer.
3) Cultivation of large areas of Facai, a blue-green algae that grows on desert sands.
Faci grows in spindly black strands having the ability to collect and store any moisture available while protecting sandy soils from the wind. (In desert areas of western China, some Faci is harvested, cooked, and eaten to supplement local diets.)
4) Creation of Myrrh tree plantations using the small native Myrrh trees that are
native plants in desert areas of Somalia, Kenya, Yemen, Arabia, and India. The pungent oleo-gum resin, collected from Myrrh trees, is used in making many herbal medicines, as well as perfumes, fumigation products, and incense for religious rituals.
5) Use of woven straw mats to provide protective grids around newly planted trees and shrubs. If large boulders are available, they may be moved/ placed to form a wind barrier for protection of young plants. Sand fences may be used if boulders are not found where needed.
6) Improvement of water resources management and utilization, with salinization
controls to protect land from salt pollution.
7) Community development in arid regions using “zero net energy” technologies
to plan and construct self-sufficient communities that can easily tolerate temperature extremes, and harsh desert environments. (NPI’s website, shown herewith, has details.)
8) Construction of heat and evaporation-loss protected greenhouses to produce fresh, local, healthful foods for the above said desert communities.
9) To undertake the research and development of new microenterprise technologies designed to provide adequate income(s) for arid region populations.

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