Desertification Challenge in Egypt
Prof. Ismail Abdel Galil Hussein Chairman of Desert Research Center National focal point of UNCCD
EGYPT IS HYPERARID • Egypt occupies about one million square kilometers, 86% lies entirely in hyper arid and 14% in arid climatic conditions. • Egypt has early ratified the UNCCD ( July 1995 )
1 Causes of desertification Human activities: • Global climate change • Extinction of biodiversity • Contamination and pollution of air ,water, and land • Enrichment of the resources with persistent organic pollutants • Removal of biomass for fuel • Over cultivation • Overgrazing • Mismanagement of water resources • Land mining
Climate variations
Desertification Indirect Drivers
Indirect Drivers • Demographic Equilibrium • Economic Ecosystem Pressure • Socio-political State • Science & Tech.
2 Desertification Direct Drivers Human-induced Ecosystem imbalance
U r b a n n ii o z tii at llu ii ll on o P R emo ova l of n of for bio ction r fu ma xtin rsity
Threshold r Threshold el ss E ive biod Equilibrium State Ov ere n xpl vatio oita ultiv es tion ve c sou of siv G rc n nten es atu In ll ra g o al iin b z cc a a h ll r g a cc r n ll r ii e g m v ee O a tt ee
The Dilemma ??? Balance
Food Security (Intensive cultivation) Overexploitation Welfare Pollution Individualism (Human aspiration) Nationalism (sustainability) Nationalism Globalization
3 Demographic Pressure
ﻋﺪد اﻟﺴﻜﺎن
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0 1897 1937 1947 1969 1979 1989 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2017
Illiteracy rate + Religious + Culture and traditions reasons
A demographic imbalance Inland migration towards the cities
Resulted in : Increasing population density Increasing unemployment rates
1700/km2
67/km2
Led to : Increasing poverty rates Increasing criminal acts
4 Water Shortage
(Water hsare Per capita (m3 ﻋﺪد اﻟﺴﻜﺎن
100 5000
90 4500
80 4000
70 3500
60 3000
50 2500
40 2000
30 1500
20 1000
10 500
0 0 1897 1937 1947 1969 1979 1989 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2017 1897 1907 1917 1927 1937 1947 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Salinity
About 2 million feddans suffer from Stalinization problems. 60% of the cultivated lands of Northern Delta region are salt affected.
Due to: • The misuse of irrigation water . • Improper field drainage systems . ( 4 million acres of 7.4 million have been provided with field drainage systems).
5 Salt affected areas in Egypt
El-Fayoum Siwa oases
Inland migration towards the cities
Agriculture business No more Productive Profitable
6 Socio-economic aspects Prioritization Globalization Individualism ? Food +……
Poor Water Management
7 Unsustainable Agricultural Practices The use of water skimming wells in the costal areas ,where lenses of thin fresh water exist .These kinds of wells require high degree of precision in operation and management of the system
Assessment of the ground water resources in quantity and quality is a must to mitigate : Serious salinity problems Overuse of groundwater
Biodiversity loss
•Urban encroachment and soil scarping. •Losses was estimated by about 20,000 Feddan / year). Urbanization is expected to rise in a “business-as –usual “ scenario
Loss Of Productive land
9 Seawater Intrusion
Efforts to prevent Salinization of the productive agricultural soils and to conserve the sea shore-line from sea water intrusion,
Water logging Med. Sea ﻣﺮﺳﻰ ﻣﻄﺮوح
10 Pollution
Cause : The extensive use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and agrochemicals amendments . led to : Excessive leaching of nitrates to the water table and further to the groundwater resources causing health and environmental hazards .
Water Erosion
11 Soil Erosion
Sand Dune encroachment
Experiences in fixation of sand dunes using varied technologies of mechanical, chemical and biological fixation of mobile dunes were tested and applied in several activities in the North Coastal areas
In general despite the implementation of several projects for sand dunes fixation especially in North Sinai, the treated areas are far from adequate due to : z Lack of adequate numbers of transplants and materials used. z Lack of personal and appropriate experiences. z Lack of participation of local stakeholders and their conviction and awareness of the significance of the problem. z Lack of adequate financial resources.
12 The Challenge
Food Security Is threatened by Desertification Resources Population The National strategy up to 2017:
z Horizontal expansion (3.4 million Fed.)
z Vertical expansion ( increase productivity)
z Policy reform
Way -out ?
13 Land Reclamation Plan
Future plan up to 2017 Under reclamation Reclaimed land
land reclamation strategy of Egypt
Targets: • Food security * Demographic distribution balance * Private sector role * Cost-benefit efficiency * Socio-economic considerations in Land tenure : Three different types have been approached: 1.Traditional: small acreages (5-10 feddan) for the graduates, beneficiaries and retired individuals. 2. Non-Traditional: Large acreages 100,000 feddan for the private sector companies. 3. Mega projects: 300,000 feddan to be sold in 100,000 feddan to big investors
14 Land reclamation policy reform
Public sector (feddan) Private sector (feddan)
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0 1982-1987 1987-1992 1992-1997 1997-2017
Public and private sector share in the land reclamation plan during 1987-2002
Conservation of land Resources from pollution Cause : The extensive use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and agrochemicals amendments . led to : Excessive leaching of nitrates to the water table and further to the groundwater resources causing health and environmental hazards . Approached by : z Research and extension activities. z Public awareness efforts. z Introduction of Integrated Pest Management practices. z Restrictive rules for importing and using pesticides. z Rational use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
15 Groundwater Irrigated lands Assessment of the ground water resources in quantity and quality is a must to mitigate : • Serious salinity problems • Overuse of groundwater
The use of water skimming wells,where lenses of thin fresh water exist .These kinds of wells require high degree of precision in operation and management of the system
Water Harvesting
16 Salinity and Water logging
Due to: • The misuse of irrigation water . • Improper field drainage systems . Resulted in : • Degradation of the productive soils Improvement : • Open and tile drainage • Biological drainage In order to : •Combating soil salinization and soil alkalinity. • Minimize soil logging and improve aeration • Enhance soil productivity by 17-25%. •Lowering of water table. •Improving physical and chemical soil properties. •Adding, additional areas to be cultivated upon conversion from open drainage to tile drainage.
Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs
Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency The National Programmer for Safe Use of Treated Sewage Water for Afforestation
2.4 milliard cubic meter secondary treated waste water are available to establish 400,000 Feddan Agroforests.
The geographic distribution of the forests
17 Desertification Process z Increased Carbon emission + Decreased Carbon sequestration Rustled in : = Global warming = Increasing ETp = Vegetation loss = Soil erosion = Reduced biological productivity = Desertification The challenge can be met through a strategy of a better use of agricultural biodiversity to fight desertification .
Way-Out WE MUST RELAY ON OUR OWN WEALTH OF NATURAL RESOURCES TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION
z Plant biodiversity (genetic potential) can help rehabilitate degraded ecosystems in order to challenge problems such as : • Heat stress (Global warming) • Drought tolerant (Water scarcity) • Halophytes (Water quality degradation) •Nutrition value ( Food security) •Economic value increase farmers incomes (Poverty reduction)
18 Plant Genetic Resources
Utilization Conservation
The Egyptian Desert Gene Banks primary objective is to minimize the gap between conservation and utilization.
Poverty and Biodiversity in Africa
Areas where used as a proxy for Poverty are coincided with a high occurrence of invaluable wealth of Plant Genetic Resources
19 cennia marina I am enjoying saline Halophytes water ! zHalophytes are plant species Salt that grow naturally in saline exclusion Environments. zThey occupy a wide range of How are habitats – from wet , seacoast marches to dry, inland saline You, mum? deserts.
BiosalineAgriculture
20 Medicinal plants
Capparis spinosa ( Caper) Traditional Uses: seeds for treatment of feminine sterility and dysmenorrheal, they are crushed and applied externally on ulcers, ganglions and scrofula. the Mentha spicata( Mint) Traditional Uses: For cough, and cold Origanum syriacum (Syrian Origano) Volatile oil consisting of more than 80% carvacrol, resin and flavonoids
Solenostemma arghel (Argel) Pregnane glycosides closely resemble cardiac glycosides, which are important in medicinal chemistry because of their effect on the cardiac muscle
Biological Fixation of Sand Dune encroachment
Dual purpose plants Sisal is one of the fast growing and economic revenue
21 Biological Fixation of Sand Dune encroachment
Experiences in fixation of sand dunes using biological fixation of mobile dunes were tested and applied in several activities in the North Coastal areas In general despite the implementation of several projects for sand dunes fixation especially in North Sinai, the treated areas are far from adequate due to : - Lack of adequate numbers of transplants and materials used. - Lack of personal and appropriate experiences. - Lack of participation of local stakeholders and their conviction and awareness of the significance of the problem. -Lack of adequate financial resources.
Dual purpose plants Sisal is one of the fast growing and economic revenue
This facility has been conceived to address specifically the optimum utilization of plant genetic resources from dry and desert areas. Conservation: Short & medium term : ( +4C & 40% RH). Long term storage : ( -20 C) A seed drying unit operating at +22C & 10% RH and a laboratory for seed processing and packing are included
22 Vulnerability
z Vulnerability = Risks / Capabilities To minimize vulnerability we have to introduce measures to increase capabilities Or To minimize risks
South-South Co-operation zBioversity International/DRC has established the Center of Excellence for Training in Seed Conservation and Use at the Desert Gene Bank in 2005. zThe Centre of Excellence aims to provide training opportunities to enhance the capacity of national programs in the region to sustainable manage and use their plant genetic diversity ex situ, in situ and on- farm. zThe Center of Excellence is well- equipped with advanced facilities, specialized laboratories and experimental fields.
23 Extension Service
• Training • Awareness
Traditional Knowledge
24 Mawasi
Depression about 3 m below the sea level 200 m far from the sea shore Very tied to rainfall
Thamila
Width 4m-depth 3m Water quality is 300-400 ppm 400 m far from the sea shore Small pump to irrigate 3-4 feddan
25 El Khandek
Depth is about 2 meter Width is 3 meter Water quality is 300-400 ppm 400 meter from the sea shore Pumping water by machine to irrigate about 5-8 feddan
Water harvesting water harvesting projects increased water supply by more than 45% of the supply that was available before project initiation in 1994 by the excavation of 8000 cisterns and reservoirs with a total physical capacity of 1.25 million m3 and a potential capacity of 2.5 million m3. A total of 435000 m3 of dykes were constructed to conserve water and soils and supported the planting of fruit trees on 5620 feddans. In addition to 177455 m3 of structural works were constructed and 100 km of windbreaks were planted to conserve soil, water and vegetation and for environmental and biodiversity enhancement. Fodder shrubs were planted on more than 21000 feddans. 35% of farmers increased their orchard areas, 20% adopted crop rotation and 16% interplanted legume fodder shrubs with barley for improving soil fertility and contributing to soil conservation.
26 Water Harvesting
27 Water Conservation with Hydroponics Drastic reduction of the water consumption. Seeds germinate more quickly in Hydroponics system Forage ready to feed in 7-10 days
Access to Information
z Genebanks conserve genetic stocks of plant materials and information about their behavior, traits, management and uses. Information is derived both from study of the genetic resources and from the traditional knowledge of farmers. The information contributes to early warning and monitoring systems for drought and desertification z Access to the plant genetic resources and associated information in Gene Banks is vital for plant breeders, farmers, researchers and local populations who depend on them for their livelihoods
28 Ecosystem restoration Germplasm distribution to all users considering the enrichment and saving of plant biodiversity and restoration of ecosystems in the area.
29 Country Profile
zGeographic coordinates : 27 00 N, 30 00 E zArea: total: 1,001,450 sq km land: 995,450 sq km water: 6,000 sq km Land boundaries: Total: 2,689 km Coastline: 2,450 km zPopulation: 80,335,036 (July 2007 est.) zPopulation growth rate: 1.721% (2007 est.) zNet migration rate: -0.21 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) zLand use: arable land: 2.92% permanent crops: 0.5% other: 96.58% (2005) zIrrigated land: 34,220 sq km (2003) zAdministrative divisions: 26 governorates zAt the turn of this decade, Egypt chose to liberalize its economy and enable its private sector to take the lead in generating growth and employment.
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