In 1994, the United Nations created a convention linking the environment and development to sustainable land management. With the signing of the convention, a legal procedure binding the governments has been implemented. It is the only international agreement on the subject that is legally binding. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) was published on June 17, 1997, as part of the "World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought." Many partner organizations have been identified to implement the convention. Since 2017, 70 countries have been supported in reducing the effects of drought and implementing emergency action plans. This year's theme of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, hosted by Madrid, the capital of Spain, was "Rising From Drought Together." The Turkish slogan, "Getting Up Together from the Drought," aims to draw attention to the drought and prevent the behaviors that cause the drought by raising awareness.
What is the Purpose of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought?
With the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, work is being done to achieve three goals. First, it is desired to raise awareness of desertification and rule. Therefore, awareness of societies and states will be raised. The secondary goal is to raise awareness about drought. It has been reported that collective action is required for this. Awareness-raising activities have been carried out in society on what can be done to combat desertification and drought. As the final target, the implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification has been determined to countries such as Africa experiencing severe drought.
What is the Drought Situation in the World?
It is caused by drought, crop shortages, forest fires, and drought. It is accepted as one of the most devastating natural disasters in terms of loss of life and affecting public health deeply. Drought has increased due to the climate crisis. There is more drought every day.
Studies show that drought has increased by 29% since 2000. With the increasing drought, 55 million people have been affected every year. Studies have shown that approximately 3 billion people have been affected by drought since the early 1900s. It has been observed that 11.7 million people lost their lives. It is thought to affect more than seventy-five percent of the drought world by 2050. It is thought that the drought will increase more frequently and severely in the coming periods.
As a result of the inability to protect biological diversity, natural life has begun to suffer. In the past century, native animal species have declined drastically. At the same time, close to one billion species are in danger of extinction. It destroys food, raw materials, and the habitats of settlement creatures. Restoring living spaces to maintain ecological balance is the most outstanding solution. Biodiversity should be protected by ensuring sustainability.
What is the Great Green Wall Project?
The biggest project to restore and protect biological diversity is the Great Green Wall Project. It was built to prevent the progress of desertification from one end of Africa to the other. A broad tree line has been created to stop or reduce the effects of desertification. The project revived degraded dried-out and infertile soil. An area of 100 million hectares has been restored, and the place that will give life to millions of living things has begun to be transformed.
What Problems Will Be Experienced in Food Supply with Increasing Drought?
Currently, 2 billion people worldwide suffer from food insecurity. It is getting harder to provide food for the increasing population daily. Fertile soils are needed to feed and survive. However, with each passing desertification, it has started to damage fertile lands.
According to the data obtained from the research carried out by the IPCC, formerly fertile lands have become deserts. The ecological order has begun to deteriorate with the widespread desertification of lands. If desertification continues at the same rate, 10% of the world's population will starve by 2030. Sustainable land management cannot be achieved due to increased global demand for industrial agriculture and animal husbandry. Forests are threatened with extinction due to desertification. Not only forests and trees that are sources of oxygen but also a whole ecological order are threatened with extinction.
It is seen in another report of the IPCC that societies have a direct impact on an area of 70% of the ordinary land around the world. With the increase in population, a large amount of resource wastage began to be experienced. Research shows that areas with the largest oxygen source to provide global life, such as rainforests, have started to be seen as insufficient to clean carbon emissions. Even in regions that act as a shield against carbon emissions, carbon emission has begun to be seen.
What Can Be Done to Prevent Drought and Desertification?
It is essential to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2030. As much as possible, fertile lands should be restored, renewed, and made healthy again. Apart from governments and institutions, there are many behaviors that individuals should also do. Preventing actions that harm nature and the atmosphere, such as burning stubble, awareness-raising activities should be carried out for those who do it.
It will be possible to prevent drought by growing drought-resistant plants and multiplying them with technological infrastructure. By establishing efficient irrigation systems, many areas will be irrigated, and natural resources will be protected. At the same time, water resources must be recycled and used by establishing water treatment plants. Therefore, water treatment plants should be established. However, erosion should be prevented by preventing erosion. Finally, technological studies should be carried out in order to prevent drought. Carbon emissions and greenhouse gases should be reduced through technological innovations. At the same time, green areas can be increased by making technological developments in the field of seeds.
Authors:
Buğçe Ağca
Çağın Ergün
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