A.O. Sharifa, M. Sanduka and H.M. Talebb The Date Palm and its Role (a) Centre for Osmosis Research & Applications, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, University of in Reducing Soil Salinity Surrey, Guildford Surrey GU2 XH, UK (b) School of Architecture, University of and Global Warming Sheffield, Sheffield S10 1FL, UK [email protected]

Abstract greater extent than other trees, due he date palm is a blessed tree to its large size. It also on average that is known for its various stores more carbon than other trees Tbenefits. It plays a big role in of similar size. This potential makes achieving environmental balance, as it the date palm an important tool in the grows in a harsh climatic environment fight to stave off global warming, which and even in highly saline sand. is mainly caused by carbon dioxide Moreover, the date palm absorbs emissions. Consequently, this paper Blessed Tree - March 2011 Blessed Tree carbon dioxide to a significantly proposes a massive date palm tree 61 62 The Date Palm and its Role in Reducing Soil Salinity and Global Warming o gnrtos eas i ws one was it life because of generations for aspects religious and social economic, the in role important very a played has palm date The globally. distinguished is that tree national the be to considered is it where particular in Iraq in and general, in the world Arab in trees prominent most the of one is datepalm (FigureThe region 1). are they but particularly concentrated in the world, MENA the of regions dactylifera) plantations exist in several Phoenix name (scientific palm Date Introduction dactylifera, Iraq,globalwarming. Phoenix dates, palm, DateKeywords: development agenda.sustainable overall an into incorporated be would as part of carbon offset projects which the and inclusion it, of the planting of date palms growing government for of incentives provision the tree, of number neglected this of care good taking for a makes need the including recommendations, paper The a in similar way to food, the Amazon’s rainforest. and oxygen into carbon dioxide transform would that lungs future world’s the it make to order in world, Arab the in exercise planting Figure 1.Distribution of Date Palm in themid-1960s[1] plantations Iraq was – before the embargo – the – embargo the before – was Iraq (FAO) Organization Agriculture and Food Nations United the by report a to According oil. after export national largest secondIraq’s be to considered was date the Notably, dates. high quality including types, date 350-400 are there that estimated is It Iraq. in palm trees were completely destroyed million 20 than more (1991), second During Iraq. the and (1980-1988) War Gulf first the in industry palm date the significant of deterioration the most for reasons the crises among economic and were war of scars The 1970. in trees palm date million 30 were there Iraq in that indicated Estimates food cultivators. of palm sources date for vital most the of Plum Avocado Prune Lemon Grapefruit Strawberry Orange Peach Apple Apricot Pear Almond Low tolerance salt Cantaloupe Grape Olive Fig Pomegranate Medium salt Mediumtolerance salt the UnitedEmiratesthe steppedArab has that confirmed have FAO reports The Iran with21 dollars. million by Pakistan with 23 million dollars and followed dollars million 47 to equal income annual an with exports date occupied first place in terms ofat the world’s officially international level. By contrast, Tunisia appear longer no extentIraq’sthatthe to figures export exceeded Iraq in terms of exportation, Arabia Saudi and Egypt Iran, greatly; changed has situation the Iraq. However, for dollars million revenue 50 nearly annual of an generated and is equivalent This to 80% of the world market annum. per tones thousand 550 producing producer, date largest Date Palm High tolerance salt Figure 2.Schematic of Illustration Date Palm Tree anditsParts[3] in decline major a been has There theDateof Palm Reasons behindtheDecline 60-70 kilosinSaudi Arabia[3]. reached productivity palm date year, same in whereas, palm, date one for Kilos 20-25 around was productivity palm date Iraq’s 1994, In [2]. 1993 thousand in 10 from tonnes thousand 60 to 1989 in tonnes Iran, in even rose higher exports dates 1993. and However, of 1989 factor between a times by four exports date its up 3-  2-  1- Urban sprawl. cultivation. Theseinclude: tree palm in decline this to attributed been have reasons Several 1980s. the by doubled had negligence this and 1960s the since palms date in interest o s tcnlg fr ae palm date cultivation. for technology use to failure and farmers of Negligence plantations. palm date for plans serious of and lack interest government of Lack e oe hwvr ht depending that, however noted be in should It [4]. is, ppm 7000 – 6000 range fact, the that indicate even studies Recent ppm). 500 – 2000 (i.e. environment tolerance salt adapted high a best to is palm date the shows that of plants, types different for which demonstrates the salt tolerance below, table The soils. sandy and clay dry, in including of soil, grow types different can palm date Moreover, on thetree. while perfectly mature dates quality South-West the region of whereIran, high and Iraq Peninsula, Arabian the in exist climates Such -9oC. than less mature), with winter temperatures not dates which (during summers hot and long by characterized are which areas it would be best to grow date palms in that argued sometimes temperatures.is However,it high excessively and oC. climatic environment, even with water harsh scarcity 34 a to and well adapt They 24 between ranging temperatures with regions, arid hot in grow can palms Date dies. tree the until off fall not do normally they and beautiful are leaves palm Date years. meters. They can live for more than 200 24-30of height a to grow can and tall is palm date The palms. date of types 500 nearly are There pollinated. wind tree. This is because it is deciduous and The date palm is a unique type of palm Date Palm the of Characteristics 5-  4-  palms [8]. date more planting starts Iraq and observed is trend the of change a recently the only however day, present until continued has and War Gulf first the with began depletion This Iraq. in palms depletion date of process the accelerated which blockade economic the and sector agriculture the upon war of Effects hrae f ae ad ih soil high salinity. and water of Shortage 63 Blessed Tree - March 2011 64 The Date Palm and its Role in Reducing Soil Salinity and Global Warming lhuh h aon o captured of amount the although that noted be should It the tmosphere). from of absorbed been (all has 60% which around makes carbon whilst 25%, of maximum a constitutes water palm, date the to regard With plant. living whole the of 75% around represents water whilst wood, dry the of 50% constitutes carbon Moreover, the illustrates 2 of the dateparts palmtree. Figure is CO2significant. of absorption its metres, 25 to 15 from ranges tree of palm date the height the that given Moreover, width). in centimetres 2 and length in leaflets centimetres 30 around is leaflet (each 150 approximately has leaf oflength a leaf is 4-5 metre), and each (the leaves dense very with tree large a dateacknowledgingis thatthe palm plants’ worth the perhaps is it Here, parts. ofgreen size the on depends CO2 absorbed of amount the Indeed, for the main polluters of foodthe environment. of source humans and animals, both of main which are a forms produced sugar The water. of tonnes 0.58 only of use net the to translates of oxygen and 0.6 tonne of water. This can water produce of one tonne of tonne sugar, 0.53 tonne tonne 1.2 and 1.46 CO2 of formula, this on Based 6-  the in shown as formula:following plants, other to sugar, similar produce (H2O), water and (O2) oxygen and (CO2) dioxide carbon absorb palms Date sunlight. from energy the using glucose) sugars (i.e. as that into such compounds dioxide organic known carbon converts that commonly process the to refers photosynthesis is It increases. concentration salt the as decreases palm date the of productivity the soil, upon the environment and the type of 61O(q + O() 6 + O2(g) H2O(l) photons 6 + + H2O(l) →C6H12O6(aq) 12 + CO2(g) 200-900 kg/m3 [5]),comparatively around of density wood (with biggest roots the with tree large a also is and years), 100 exceed might that age an (with tree living long a palm date tone of CO2. Given that not only is 3.66 the around requires carbon of tone one of production the words, other In C +O2=CO2 reaction: per thefollowing CO2of tones as 3.66 produces carbon common is of tonne one burning that knowledge It roots. and trunk in the stored also is carbon tree, the of age and type the on depends carbon 522 x3.66=2020.3kg of522 CO2. lifetime around: of dioxide total carbon of a amount to lead would This around 1,103.8 kg. x%50 =552 be would mass carbon The would part solid represent 1,472 =1,103.8 –368 kg. remaining The x %25 kg. =368 1,472kg. waterconstitutes:Thus, 1,472 approximately is woods trunk mass the of the meters, 0.5 of diameter a and meters 15 of height a Assuming carbon. of form a CO2in are tree the of roots of and trunk the in stored and absorbed amounts significant 2)  1)  world through thefollowing: Arab the of environment the improving for potential the has palm life. date human the studies, recent to According to comfort aesthetic and shade provides its It landscape. and the improving roads mention decorating in advantage to not environment, the on a impact has positive palm date the plants, all Like and Economic Implications Date Palm: Environmental 290 kg, asproducingfood. aswell about to equivalent annually is which and trunk its roots, it coverts a large amount in of CO2 carbon of amount date palm, in addition, to storing large of form carbon. This a would mean that is a mature which weight carbohydrate that is of 79% About [6]. year per kg 100 reach proper could crop its care, with environment, climatic and agricultural suitable a in grown is around 60-80 kg. When the date palm yearsofage,is 13 crop, to up total The life,kg.8-10 yearlyaround corpsthe is its of years 8 to 5 first the during that productivity.its estimatedis is palm It Another distinctive feature of the date a shieldagainst duststorms. of growing date palms near cities could work as the in The intensification desertification. balance reducing and ecological enhancing in role important an has it palm, date the of features adaption the Given photosynthesis calculations, on Based CO2. of tones million 2.0 million was absorb can trees it one palm date mature [7], that study demonstrated earlier an In tree water. of amount palm minimal a needs the a of size, plants comparable other to Compared organizations. non-governmental and governmental of range wide a something that is of high priority to absorbing CO2 in from potential the big atmosphere; a have trees Palm o e ag sae bten palms. between spaces large be to tend there farms, palm date Within 5) 4)  3)  food the as well value. as CO2 of tones 200,000 absorb would trees million a growing annually, kg 200 by CO2 of reduction a to lead would tree datepalm one since that suggest can we trg cpblt gvn t large size andlonglife. its given capability storage high a have palms absorption date potential, CO2 high its Besides eeae oh ih eeu and jobs. revenue high both generate could scale large a on palms date palm date growing [6], kg 100 single exceeds could of a crop from annual dates the that Given time of thetrees. life the during roots, and trunk the in stored be would that carbon of tones million 60.0 approximately mention to not annually, absorbed be would CO2 of tones million 6 that possible is it achieved, is trees palm million 30 Amazon of target the the If food. quality and value high to producing as well way as rainforest, similar a in oxygen, exhale and CO2 inhale to it world’s future lungs that would enable the Iraq make essentially would This countries, Arab leads the world in terms of date crops. other of number a palm million 30 among Iraq, thatFigure trees.shows 3 least at had once which Iraq, in cultivation palm date In this regard, it is proposed to intensify such anendeavor. MENA countriescould – contribute in other or Iraq as such environments, suitable more with – counties other is not suitable for growing date palms; England of environment climatic the that However,given farm. single a on grown be to need palms date these of all not that noted be also should It be enough to grow 30,000 date palms. would km2 one that assuming area), 3,600 require km2 (i.e. around 1.5% of England’s land would palms date of total emissions). Growing this number (i.e., the equivalent of 30% of England’s absorb up to 200 million tones of CO2 could trees palm million 100 Growing of States United America produces 5,877 million the tones). that mind in (bearing world the in producers CO2 This 2007. highest the among makescountry the in 566.7 CO2 of produced tones million it that estimated been has it – in instance for – emissions England CO2 the Considering Lungs Iraq asthe World’s Future nutritious value). and content carbon high a have also (which grapes as such fruits of types different grow to used be could These 65 Blessed Tree - March 2011 66 The Date Palm and its Role in Reducing Soil Salinity and Global Warming ae en lne pr nu, in annum, differentof Iraqsince2003 parts [8]. per planted been have 410,000extentthat the to datepalms in revived been has palms date growing interest (USAID), Development United States Agency for International the by provided support the of result a as that, here It is acknowledging worth aspects. planning, scientific the and funding of terms international in support and regional require would Iraq that project, ambitious an no doubt, given the magnitude of such is There opportunities. high providing employment generate whilst to returns, likely economic is Iraq in palms date growing that means This world. the in type rarest and quality that Iraqi dates are among the highest remembered be should it Moreover, Figure 3:International Spread of Date Cultivation [4] h oe rvdd y h World the by provided one the of sustainable development is perhaps development. that The most cited sustainable definition solutions to lead ultimately would providing many for been environmental calls have there recent concerns, the Given Development Date Palms and Sustainable account the economic, environmental environmental economic, the account into preserving taking whilst resources, and natural growth economic between compromise a find to trying is whole, a as world, The [9]. needs” own their meet to generations future of ability the compromising without present the of needs the meets that and “Development 1987: in Environment Development on Commission ae hm h ftr lns f the of lungs future the them make and palms date utilize effectively to order in place into put be must air Plans problems. salinity tackling soil and with pollution along warming, global of problem the addressing potential in strong a have palms Date Conclusions oxygen. exhaling and CO2 inhaling by world the of lungs future the Iraq making of ambition the realising in This help would endeavours. offsetting carbon the of part as the general), in world Arab (and tree Iraq the in of initiatives top planting the at palms date place to here proposed is It projects. planting tree and energy renewable of environmentally-friendly development the as such projects of range carbon buying offsets which could be used for a wide this through out balance footprint to attempt then and problem, warming global the to which footprint’, contribution individual’s the to refers ‘carbon the warming out figure to is global idea basic The in solutions. participate to businesses and of individuals a range for ways gases offers CO2), greenhouse (including of production the of result a as consciences guilty offsetting, Carbon assuaging of idea the to refers which trees. palm of cultivation the encourage to used be could are gaining world, the around momentum which projects’, offset ‘carbon that here mentioning worth also is It palms. date of growing the intensify to importance strategic of is quality.it air Therefore, the improving ecological balance, producing food and through providing shade, achieving an for achieving sustainable development potential strong a has palm date the that argued is it regard, this In earth. most land cultivation the and the is greening of this the achieving of of ways sustainable sustainable One of development. aspects social and Oxford University Press, Oxford Future. and Development, 1987. Our Common Environment on Commission World fs09_120905.pdf http://www. usaid.gov/iraq/updates/dec05/iraq_ 2005. Development. United States Agency for International Energy Iraq Institute, London. Report. Development Basis Sustainable Scientific Solutions, Proposed with Warming: Global and Change Climate 2008. A. Sharif, html#Yield http://www.hort. 1987. purdue.edu/newcrop/morton/Date. J. Morton, ir/Data/news112/posters/36.pdf http://www.rifr-ac. 2005. H.H. Khani, Rome. Nations, United the Agriculture of Palm Organization and Date Food 1993. Productions. W.H. Barreveld, Requirement andFertilisation, Beirut. Nutrient Tree Palm Tree. Palm Date of Fertilization 1996. A.A.H. Al-Rawi, ature =6&issueno=9140&article=206414&fe www.aawsat.com/details.asp?section http:// 2003. Newspaper. East Middle text/ALM10d.htm F.T.http://ispi-lit.cirad.fr/ Bullen, 1969. References and carbon offsetprojects. and carbon initiatives development sustainable into incorporated be to needs palms date growing least, not Last, certainly but palms. date of cultivation support the to allocated improving at aimed projects research be to need funds Moreover, palms. date of role important potentially the explain that seminars to and need conferences a organize is There public. the general and investors makers, among decision raised be to has palms date of benefits the of Awareness world. 67 Blessed Tree - March 2011