Desertification and possible solutions

[Tjanaparh]

Somebody stated as desertification as one of the problems of Pashtun lands. Perhaps we can try at least everybody with his knowledge to discuss possible solutions to improove arid territories and to usem them at least partally for the benefit of simple people.

[Tjanaparh]

To bring foreward the discussion I want to introduce some dessert plants supporting very arid climates and usable as food source:

Leymus racemosus(Mammoth wildrye)
Is a pland growing in arid and salty places. It fixes moving sands.
It seeds are quiet big so it can be used instead of wheat. With modern selection sure it will be possible to create better types with even bigger seeds.

[Tjanaparh]

Ephedra species:
Are used as medicin for Ephedrine extraction.
They grow in sandy and stony areas.
Their fruits can be used as food for making sweets

[Tjanaparh]

Nitraria species:
Are small shrubs that produce dark red tasty fruit.
They grow on salty and sandy places.

[Tjanaparh]

Malacocarpus crithmifolius(Softfruit) is a shrub of the Peganaceae/Zygophyllaceae.
It grows in sandy and stony places.
Its fruit are eaten and modern selection would allow to get plants with a bit bigger fruits.

[Tjanaparh]

Calligonum:
Small trees, one of the best sand-fixing plants.
Some species produce aple tasting fruits.
Stems are also edible.
A nice tea is produced out of the stems as well.

[Badlun]

Good discussion. Desertification is the degradation of land in drylands Caused by a variety of factors, such as climate change and human activities, desertification is one of the most significant global environmental problems and is also rampant in Pashtunland. Along with desertification deforestation is also a menace and the beautify of Pashtunland is under catastrophe of deforestation which is causing serious environmental issues.

Desertification is recognized as a major threat to biodiversity. Pashtunland should have developed Biodiversity Action Plans to counter its effects, particularly in relation to the protection of endangered flora and fauna. Reforestation gets at one of the root causes of desertification. Thus deforestation must stop and reforestation must take place at the areas destroyed by desertification.

The huge dessertification going on in Kunar, Noristan ,Swat, Dir and Kohistan is a big challenge to Pashtun leadrs in both Afghanistan and Pakistan.

[sanman]

Here is a presentation talk given by Magnus Larrson, on his proposal to combat desertification:




It's a radical idea, but it's an interesting one.

[Soldat_Amir]

To prevent desertification, Afghanistan needs to build a good irrigation system. As a matter of fact, they say, the reason why some parts of Afghanistan are desert-like, is due to the fact that the Mongols destroyed Afghansitan irrigation systems and demotived the population through bloodshed and mass murder.

[Tjanaparh]

The ancient irrigation systems were quiet strong ones. If I rember well in the Taklamakan thes still use the ancient irrigation system.
However as this needs time and money and good ecological thinking, at first for example it is possible to use those kind of plants i mentioned, they are at least local, adopted to dessert conditions and would make the dessert a usfull place to feed people. Further they would create a better soil. Fixing the soil irrigatin would be necessari for further impoovement.
The idea Sanman posted is also very interesting, I've never heard of such bacteria.
Often even the dessert if full of water under the sand

[Tjanaparh]

The Turpan water system or Turfan water system (locally called karez water system, Uyghur: كارىز, ULY: kariz) in Turpan, located in the Turpan Depression, Xinjiang, China, is a qanat system adapted by the Turpan people. [1] The Chinese claim the karez system as one of the three greatest water projects of China, linking it with the Dujiangyan Irrigation System and the Grand Canal.[2] The karezes are a Persian invention The word karez means "well" in the local Uyghur language.[3] Turpan has the Turpan Water Museum (a Protected Area of the People's Republic of China) dedicated to demonstrating its karez water system, as well as exhibiting other historical artifacts.
Turpan's well system was crucial in Turpan's development as an important oasis stopover on the ancient Silk Road skirting the barren and hostile Taklamakan Desert. Turpan owes its prosperity to the water provided by its karez well system.[4]
Turpan's karez water system is made up of a horizontal series of vertically dug wells that are then linked by underground water canals to collect water from the watershed surface runoff from the base of the Tian Shan Mountains and the nearby Flaming Mountains. The canals channel the water to the surface, taking advantage of the current provided by the gravity of the downward slope of the Turpan Depression. The canals are mostly underground to reduce water evaporation.[5]
The system has wells, dams and underground canals built to store the water and control the amount of water flow. Vertical wells are dug at various points to tap into the groundwater flowing down sloping land from the source, the mountain runoff. The water is then channeled through underground canals dug from the bottom of one well to the next well and then to the desired destination, Turpan's irrigation system.[5] This irrigation system of special connected wells originated during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 24 CE).[2]
In Xinjiang, the greatest number of karez wells are in the Turpan Depression, where today there remain over 1100 karez wells and channels having a total length of over 5,000 kilometres (3,100 mi). The local geography makes karez wells practical for agricultural irrigation and other uses. Turpan is located in the second deepest geographical depression in the world, with over 4,000 km2 (1,500 sq mi) of land below sea level and with soil that forms a sturdy basin.[5] Water naturally flows down from the nearby mountains during the rainy season in an underground current to the low depression basin under the desert. The Turpan summer is very hot and dry with periods of wind and blowing sand. The water from the underground channels provides a stable water source year round, independent of season.[3]
Ample water was crucial to Turpan, so that the oasis city could service the many caravans on the Silk Route resting there near a route skirting the Taklamakan Desert. The caravans included merchant traders and missionaries with their armed escorts, animals including camels, sometimes numbering into the thousands, along with camel drivers, agents and other personnel, all of whom might stay for a week or more. The caravans needed pastures for their animals, resting facilities, trading bazaars for conducting business, and replenishment of food and water.[4]



Turpan water system - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Badlun]

To prevent desertification, Afghanistan needs to build a good irrigation system. As a matter of fact, they say, the reason why some parts of Afghanistan are desert-like, is due to the fact that the Mongols destroyed Afghansitan irrigation systems and demotived the population through bloodshed and mass murder.

Yes irrigation is the solution but we should not blame all our pitfalls on others . First Mongols did not destroy the whole irrigation system and second some 6 centuries passed after mongols so we should have developed our own system again as done by British in India and Pakistan.

[Talal]

imo pashtun diaspora needs to branch away from agriculture and work more on industrialization .. KP is rich not just in minerals and gas like Baluchistan but its unique geography makes it ideal to become a centre for Hydro Power generation ..think of Peshawar as karachi, you get a landport there..build roads and infrastructure, get the tribes out of the whole land mentality..There would be no desertification and in effect Pashtuns in Pakistan would be much better poised to trade directly with Afghanistan not only helping Afghanistan but essentially becoming a hub for central asia

Honestly, this land has just SO much more potential than jus growing fruits and sabzi

[retro]

imo pashtun diaspora needs to branch away from agriculture and work more on industrialization .. KP is rich not just in minerals and gas like Baluchistan but its unique geography makes it ideal to become a centre for Hydro Power generation ..think of Peshawar as karachi, you get a landport there..build roads and infrastructure, get the tribes out of the whole land mentality..There would be no desertification and in effect Pashtuns in Pakistan would be much better poised to trade directly with Afghanistan not only helping Afghanistan but essentially becoming a hub for central asia

Honestly, this land has just SO much more potential than jus growing fruits and sabzi

Hydro Power is the way to go in both Pakistan and Afghanistan. However agriculture is important in terms of secuity, especially in Pakistan due to overpopulation.

The desertification/erosion is the result of massive overgrazing, poor irrigation and deforestation. Hence Afghans need to become less relatant upon lifestock and be encouraged to plant far more orchards.

Part of the reason why Afghans, need so much lifestock is poor cold storage. However if Afghans can devise ways to slaughter and cold store meat at altitude. Then Afghan lifestock farmers should be able to reduce the overall size of their herds, whilst producing the same volume of meat.

[sanman]

Hydro power, plus natural gas, could be a good combination. Afghanistan has good potential for both.

As you know, natural gas has been gradually overtaking oil in international consumption.