Page 16 - Combat Desertification News Today

Accompanied by policy recommendations, a five-day meeting is taking place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan to take stock of global progress in the UN Convention to Combate Desertification's implementation. 

Sand and dust storms are an under-appreciated problem now “dramatically” more frequent in some places worldwide, with at least 25 percent of the

In preparation for its five-day meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, this week, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) released three reports, several recommendations — and some dire news.Every year, 2 billion tons of sand and dust enter the atmosphere — the weight equivalent of 350 Great Pyramids of Giza — and about one-quarter of it is due to human activities.

"The world is losing almost 1 million square kilometres (386,000 square miles) of productive land a year to sand and dust storms made worse by human activities, the United Nations body in charge of fighting desertification warned on Wednesday."

It is estimated that Michiru Forest has now lost over 1,904ha, with most of these being home to indigenous tree species.

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The UN warned Wednesday that the number of sand and dust storms are increasing "dramatically" with Central Asia most hit by the dangerous phenomena. Toxic sand storms have plagued parts of desert and steppe covered Central Asia and North Africa and the UN said they are a threat to life.

The UN warned Wednesday that the number of sand and dust storms are increasing "dramatically" with Central Asia most hit by the dangerous phenomena.

Trend impacting food supplies, driving migration, impeding navigation, creating security risks

Topsoil losses are attributed to mining and overgrazing practices and are wreaking havoc across large parts of Asia and Africa and economic damage throughout the world.