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| UN issues desertification warning | UN issues desertification warning |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| Tens of millions of people could be driven from their homes by encroaching deserts, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Central Asia, a report says. | Tens of millions of people could be driven from their homes by encroaching deserts, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Central Asia, a report says. |
| The study by the United Nations University suggests climate change is making desertification "the greatest environmental challenge of our times". | The study by the United Nations University suggests climate change is making desertification "the greatest environmental challenge of our times". |
| If action is not taken, the report warns that some 50 million people could be displaced within the next 10 years. | If action is not taken, the report warns that some 50 million people could be displaced within the next 10 years. |
| The study was produced by more than 200 experts from 25 countries. | The study was produced by more than 200 experts from 25 countries. |
| Scarce resources | Scarce resources |
| This report does not pull any punches - desertification is an environmental crisis of global proportions, it says, and one third of the Earth's population are potential victims of its creeping effect. | This report does not pull any punches - desertification is an environmental crisis of global proportions, it says, and one third of the Earth's population are potential victims of its creeping effect. |
| Tree planting schemes may put pressure on scarce water resourcesIt says that the over-exploitation of land and unsustainable irrigation practices are making matters worse. Climate change was also a major factor degrading the soil. | Tree planting schemes may put pressure on scarce water resourcesIt says that the over-exploitation of land and unsustainable irrigation practices are making matters worse. Climate change was also a major factor degrading the soil. |
| The UN report suggests that new farming practices, such as encouraging forests in dry land areas, were simple measures that could remove more carbon from the atmosphere and also prevent the spread of deserts. | The UN report suggests that new farming practices, such as encouraging forests in dry land areas, were simple measures that could remove more carbon from the atmosphere and also prevent the spread of deserts. |
| Zafar Adeel, the lead author of the report, said: "It says to dry land dwellers we need to provide alternative livelihoods - not the traditional cropping based on irrigation, cattle farming, etcetera - but rather introduce more innovative livelihoods which don't put pressure on the natural resources. | |
| "Things like ecotourism or using solar energy to create other activities." | |
| Some countries like China have embarked on tree planting programmes to stem the advance of deserts - but according to the author, in some cases the trees being planted needed large amounts of water, putting even more pressure on scarce resources. | Some countries like China have embarked on tree planting programmes to stem the advance of deserts - but according to the author, in some cases the trees being planted needed large amounts of water, putting even more pressure on scarce resources. |