The Middle East and North Africa region faces ongoing challenges due to its hot, dry climate and limited water resources, leading to drought, desertification, and land degradation.
These issues negatively impact various ecosystems, particularly agriculture, and cause economic hardship for local populations.
Saudi Arabia, recognizing the significance of these issues, has hosted discussions during Environment Week to address these challenges and showcase its leadership in environmental preservation and sustainable development.
Experts and advocates gathered during Environment Week in Riyadh to exchange ideas, with a focus on drought, desertification, and land degradation.
Ibrahim Thiaw, executive secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, discussed the challenges humanity faces in coping with frequent crises, including land degradation and drought.
He highlighted Saudi Arabia's important role due to its significant economy and growing demand for support.
Thiaw warned of increased irregular migration, competition for land and water, and potential conflicts due to these issues.
Drought, a major problem in the Middle East, is putting water resources under stress as both surface water and groundwater reserves decline due to decreased precipitation and increased evaporation rates.
A visual representation shows the dried-up al-Kalal River in Badrah, near the Iran border.
Iraq is experiencing a severe drought caused by a lack of rain and decreased water flows from neighboring countries Iran and Turkey.
This has resulted in the drying up of rivers and lakes, leading to water shortages.
Additionally, the region has been hit by frequent sandstorms due to environmental reasons.
Dust storms are a global issue, affecting 150 countries despite originating in only 50.
To address this issue, global treaties like the UN Convention to Combat Desertification are necessary, as it currently has 197 parties and holds summits every two years.
The Global Drought Snapshot 2023 report from the International Drought Resilience Alliance and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification highlights the impact of drought and desertification on communities in the Middle East and North Africa.
The next meeting of 197 countries to discuss these issues will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in December 2024.
Experts note that drought and desertification are interconnected, with drought contributing to desertification through unsustainable agricultural practices, overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion.
The report also emphasizes that these issues have significant consequences on the lives and livelihoods of communities in the region.
Desertification, the process of land becoming arid and uncultivable, leads to the loss of arable land and decreases food production, worsening food insecurity.
It also forces communities to migrate in search of habitable areas.
During Environment Week in Riyadh, Elizabeth Mrema of the United Nations Environment Program discussed the issue, noting that Saudi Arabia has prioritized combating desertification this year, taking the lead on a global initiative to address the issue at the UN Environmental Assembly.
On June 5, 2023, Saudi Arabia will host World Environment Day and the UN Conference to Combat Desertification with the theme "Our land, our future." The focus is on land issues, as the Middle East faces a crisis of desertification and drought, leading to land degradation.
Soil erosion, salinization, and nutrient depletion are consequences of land degradation, which threatens agricultural productivity and farmer livelihoods.
This environmental crisis also increases ecosystem vulnerability, contributing to biodiversity loss and ecosystem imbalance.
Mrema, speaking at the Saudi Green Initiative Day, praised Saudi Arabia's efforts towards sustainability and its commitment to addressing global issues such as drought, desertification, and land degradation in the Middle East.
He highlighted Saudi Arabia's vision and initiatives like Saudi Vision 2030, environmental strategies of 2018, and the Saudi Green Initiative, which includes a goal to plant 10 billion trees in the country.
Thiaw and Mrema emphasized the need for a collaborative approach between governments, international organizations, and local communities to implement sustainable water management strategies, promote efficient irrigation technologies, and invest in renewable energy sources to tackle these challenges effectively.
The Middle East and North Africa regions are experiencing intensifying drought, desertification, and land degradation, which require urgent action for long-term environmental sustainability.
To address this issue, sustainable land use practices, such as reforestation and habitat protection, are essential.
Additionally, raising awareness and supporting affected communities are crucial steps towards finding solutions.
By adopting sustainable methods, investing in water management, and promoting conservation actions, these communities can reduce the severity of these challenges and ensure a more resilient future.
Saudi Arabia, recognizing the significance of these issues, has hosted discussions during Environment Week to address these challenges and showcase its leadership in environmental preservation and sustainable development.
Experts and advocates gathered during Environment Week in Riyadh to exchange ideas, with a focus on drought, desertification, and land degradation.
Ibrahim Thiaw, executive secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, discussed the challenges humanity faces in coping with frequent crises, including land degradation and drought.
He highlighted Saudi Arabia's important role due to its significant economy and growing demand for support.
Thiaw warned of increased irregular migration, competition for land and water, and potential conflicts due to these issues.
Drought, a major problem in the Middle East, is putting water resources under stress as both surface water and groundwater reserves decline due to decreased precipitation and increased evaporation rates.
A visual representation shows the dried-up al-Kalal River in Badrah, near the Iran border.
Iraq is experiencing a severe drought caused by a lack of rain and decreased water flows from neighboring countries Iran and Turkey.
This has resulted in the drying up of rivers and lakes, leading to water shortages.
Additionally, the region has been hit by frequent sandstorms due to environmental reasons.
Dust storms are a global issue, affecting 150 countries despite originating in only 50.
To address this issue, global treaties like the UN Convention to Combat Desertification are necessary, as it currently has 197 parties and holds summits every two years.
The Global Drought Snapshot 2023 report from the International Drought Resilience Alliance and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification highlights the impact of drought and desertification on communities in the Middle East and North Africa.
The next meeting of 197 countries to discuss these issues will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in December 2024.
Experts note that drought and desertification are interconnected, with drought contributing to desertification through unsustainable agricultural practices, overgrazing, deforestation, and soil erosion.
The report also emphasizes that these issues have significant consequences on the lives and livelihoods of communities in the region.
Desertification, the process of land becoming arid and uncultivable, leads to the loss of arable land and decreases food production, worsening food insecurity.
It also forces communities to migrate in search of habitable areas.
During Environment Week in Riyadh, Elizabeth Mrema of the United Nations Environment Program discussed the issue, noting that Saudi Arabia has prioritized combating desertification this year, taking the lead on a global initiative to address the issue at the UN Environmental Assembly.
On June 5, 2023, Saudi Arabia will host World Environment Day and the UN Conference to Combat Desertification with the theme "Our land, our future." The focus is on land issues, as the Middle East faces a crisis of desertification and drought, leading to land degradation.
Soil erosion, salinization, and nutrient depletion are consequences of land degradation, which threatens agricultural productivity and farmer livelihoods.
This environmental crisis also increases ecosystem vulnerability, contributing to biodiversity loss and ecosystem imbalance.
Mrema, speaking at the Saudi Green Initiative Day, praised Saudi Arabia's efforts towards sustainability and its commitment to addressing global issues such as drought, desertification, and land degradation in the Middle East.
He highlighted Saudi Arabia's vision and initiatives like Saudi Vision 2030, environmental strategies of 2018, and the Saudi Green Initiative, which includes a goal to plant 10 billion trees in the country.
Thiaw and Mrema emphasized the need for a collaborative approach between governments, international organizations, and local communities to implement sustainable water management strategies, promote efficient irrigation technologies, and invest in renewable energy sources to tackle these challenges effectively.
The Middle East and North Africa regions are experiencing intensifying drought, desertification, and land degradation, which require urgent action for long-term environmental sustainability.
To address this issue, sustainable land use practices, such as reforestation and habitat protection, are essential.
Additionally, raising awareness and supporting affected communities are crucial steps towards finding solutions.
By adopting sustainable methods, investing in water management, and promoting conservation actions, these communities can reduce the severity of these challenges and ensure a more resilient future.
