Desertification on the Sanaag plateau in north. How to fight it and reverse climate change?

[Prince of Lasanod]

Desertification is a reality in Somalia. These photos were taken near the villages of Bahdan and Hadaaftimo on the Sanaag plateau in northern Somalia in August 2004. Less than ten years ago this area was valuable grazing land, now it is all but destroyed. Pastoral experts at the NGO Horn Relief believe that the area can be rehabilitated through a combination of replanting trees to control wind erosion, controlling grazing and constructing small rock dams to control water erosion. All of this will take capital which Somalia does not have.


In the meantime we need to reduce the incentives which lead to the indiscriminate felling of trees i.e. the money to made from the charcoal trade. We can reduce the demand for charcoal by using solar cookers. Users like the type of cookers sold by Sun Fire Cooking. A household can pay for a solar cooker in less than one year through the reduced purchase of charcoal. This is a win win situation for the household and the Somali environment.


Please see the five pictures below of the encroaching desert. Help us combat it by encouraging the use of solar cookers.

Above: A few small trees remain, the sand is encroaching.

Above: Near Bahdan village. Little grazing remains.

Above: Bahdan village

Above: A sandstorm near Hadaaftimo. Less than 10 years ago this was productive grazing land.

Above: Driving through a sandstorm. Ten years ago this was a sea of grass.

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Solutions?


video is ~20 minutes long but it's worth it.

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Any type of politics or qabil talk on this thread will be reported for derailment!

 

[Bahal]

End pastoralism

 

[Yahya Liban-Lewis]

That looks so disheartening

inshallah it gets better

- Yahya Liban-Lewis

 

[cantspeak]

There's a Chinese Researcher that is looking into combating desertification by use of algae. This is a really important issue for ALL SOMALIS

https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22129502-800-spray-bacteria-on-the-desert-to-halt-its-spread/

 

[Bohol]

End pastoralism

This. Those nomads are better off raising chickens.

 

[Prince of Lasanod]

That looks so disheartening

inshallah it gets better

- Yahya Liban-Lewis

I don't think it will get better, it's getting worse.

Here are some pictures of Hadaaftimo, Sanaag before. This is the beautiful land that is turning into desert. Such a shame wallahi.

 

[Bohol]

 

[GeKo]

Also we need to ban the export of charcoal to other countries. Can you imagine Kenya that has more trees than us imports coal from Somalia. I heard of a community in North Somalia that plant a tree when someone gets married. If that became more mainstream that would defo help.

 

[Yahya Liban-Lewis]

I don't think it will get better, it's getting worse.

Here are some pictures of Hadaaftimo, Sanaag before. This is the beautiful land that is turning into desert. Such a shame wallahi.

It's so sad, I've seen it recently and it was heartbreaking.

- Yahya Liban-Lewis

 

[Bohol]

Also we need to ban the export of charcoal to other countries. Can you imagine Kenya that has more trees than us imports coal from Somalia. I heard of a community in North Somalia that plant a tree when someone gets married. If that became more mainstream that would defo help.

That is Gabiley. Not that many trees though, it is a start.

 

[Prince of Lasanod]

End pastoralism

Honestly if we ended pastoralism and qabil became insignificant we would be the most prosperous african country.

 

[bluebird]

I agree about pastoralism I wish somalis would get more into farming and skilled trades instead.

 

[Hemaal]

End pastoralism

Exactly!

 

[GeKo]

That is Gabiley. Not that many trees though, it is a start.

Not many but its a step to the right direction

 

[MARAQ DIGAAG]

End pastoralism ,then you guys will feed,cloth, rehouse and find jobs for almost half of the Somali population in the horn .?funny fellows here!

 

[MARAQ DIGAAG]

Suugo science !

 

[SOMALI GENERAL]

Honestly if we ended pastoralism and qabil became insignificant we would be the most prosperous african country.

Plus, the charcoal trade needs to end as well.

 

[Bohol]

@GeKo I drove past it many times on my way to Borama. Those trees on the sides of the road are beautiful.

 

[Mudug-Madman]

In the short term, all we can really do is plant as many trees and plants as possible. And prevent the destruction of what we have already.

Long term, it's really out of our hands. That's up to the entire planet to stop polluting and CO2 emissions, including us.