Page 7 RAIN Dec. 82/Jan. 83 PLANTING FOR OUR,VERY LIVES by David Mulligan lood, air and water - which only trees can guarantee seems to be sinking out of sight. Let's hope before more forests become just bits of driftwood in a boiling sea of sand that somewhere below the foam which tops the waves of world awareness will be found a strong groundswell of support to save the plants and trees which feed the Earth. 00 David Mulligan, a Green Deserts Council Member, has been working with the Tunisian Institute for Appropriate Technology since 1978. When we were scouring the globe looking for infonnation on the problem of desertification, he volunteered to write a short article 0/1 the work that Green Deserts is doing. From: GreCII Deserts Melllbers Masa:;/It' Trees: The Key to Recovery Dry areas cover about a third of the earth's land surface. Hawever, much of the remaining two-thirds is unsuitable for agriculture. If we exclude tundra, polar and high mountain regions and consider what percentage of potentially usable land has become desert during the last century, the ,figures are as follows: In 1872 about 14% was desert; in 1952 this had risen t033%;and by 1977 it was astaggering 55%. Now, ill 1982, almost two-thirds of tht' u5'.blt' land on earth has become dry and barren . The UN estimates that at the present rate of cropland loss and population growth, there will be halfas much cropland available to feed each person by the year 2000. While recognising that there are many ways of approaching the problem of desertification, Green Deserts particulary supports the introduction of tree crop fanning systems in arid lands. The beneficial effects of trees in barren or desert areas are many. They enrich the soil while providing protection against erosion, wind-blown Sand and scorching sun. The concept of tree crops means that trees can be planted for all of the above benefits, and in addition provide crops offodder, fuel, food, fibre and other products. This makes tree planting more economically viable than is possible from the mere provision of timber. Once trees have been established and are providing some initial protection (in as little as 2 years), other crops can be introduced in an integrated system of agro-forestry. Many productive trees are able to grow in marginal arid lands, in particular a number of the drought-resistant legumes. Research is needed into. the potential Df these and many other promising species. Agricultural and range management systems based around tree crops will be able to sustain rural communities in arid lands, while at the same time improving the soil for future generations. As predicted world food shortages worsen, it is possible that products from currently little-known trees will be accorded substantial importance, providing a much needed economic and ecological boost to many marginalfanns.
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