Read at : Google Alert – desertification
http://buscador.uanl.mx/noticias/interes/descripcion.php?id_not=331&lang=en
Some Alternatives for Avoiding the Desertification
Date: (30/10/2009)
Facultad de Ciencias Forestales
The use of red woodlouse as coloring and ‘lechuguilla’ scrubbing ‘little lettuce,’ in English, are some options studied by the School of Forestry (FCF, Spanish abbreviation).
By Mayra Silva Almanza
The erosion is an earth’s natural process, but when it increases at a brisk pace is because there was a human being’s unfavorable action. So, the earth must be analyzed for obtaining a total or partial improvement.
Dra. Marisela Pando Moreno –in the School of Forestry Faculty of Land Ecosystems has been focused on researching erosion problem, and, generally, desertification’s problems in arid and semiarid areas as well as affected areas’ restoration.
In 1992, doctor Pando received a economic support by the National Council on Science and Technology (CONACYT, Spanish abbreviation) for studying desertification processes in Northeast Mexico and they found that the most degraded lands –in the region- are those used for shepherding.
“Shepherding could affect –in a devastating way- the land. When there is too much animal weight on a surface, it is harmful, because the cattle trample and pack the land, cattle consume the vegetation, so, and when it rains the water does not get filtered appropriately and drains off, taking part of the land.”
However, and as FCF professor says, it is necessary to find a balance between livestock farmers and farmers’ productive processes and care of their lands.
“We can find the best techniques for people keep with their work. We cannot force them to leave their job but it really reduces the number of animals, every animal will fatten, so, it is more productive or the land can be divided and the cattle can be rotated.”
“Another alternative is not to shepherd a part of the land in order to be make it a place that could be stretched by wind, animals or insects. So, it is not about change people’s work but tell them how to improve their lands.”
Likewise, the researcher said that there are some lands areas that can be easier to be eroded, so, it is better they do not be used but they can be reforested, and do not put animals there.
Recently, through Europe, a project focused on evaluating restoration actions in different ecosystems. Eleven countries are participating and the UANL will represent Mexico with arid and semiarid areas’ study.
The objective is to see the best effective way of restoring ecosystems, and it improves the vegetation and makes that land gets back its properties to be fertile, but above all, it is looking for spreading that information and people know about it in order to acquire the techniques for land and ecosystem’s necessities.
This project will be carried out in protected natural areas in Northeast Mexico: “El Llano” and “La Trinidad” as well as in other areas that are not protected.
(continued)
We invite you to keep reading the second part of this article: ‘Lechuguilla’ and Thin Cochineal for Sustainable Development.
