World's deserts under threat, action needed: UN report

Agence France-Presse via Yahoo ^ | June 4, 2006 | Phil Hazlewood

[Daralundy]

And here I thought the world would be better if we had less in the way of deserts.

[Dog Gone]

We must protect the deserts, rain forests (formerly known as "jungles"), glaciers, blah blah blah.

Nothing has ever changeed in the past. The climate has always been exactly what is was in 1990 or 1977 or whatever, and the slightest change is reason for DOOM.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

This has gotta be from The Onion, right? "...less water to sustain deserts..." LOL. Alarmist claptrap of the day award.

[Tzimisce]

Deserts are under threat? I'd say so - a lot of them are covered in Muslims.

It's okay though - from what I hear Global Warming will insure more deserts.

[wyattearp]

Warren told reporters at the study's launch in London that most deserts' groundwater levels are dropping "very, very quickly" as ancient underground aquifers are exhausted

. Meanwhile, road-building, pollution and hunting are threatening flora and fauna while rising water tables and irrigation was causing the salinization of soils and groundwater.

So which is it? Are the water tables rising, or are the levels dropping? Are the aquifers being exhausted, or are they filling up? Asinine article.

[Oztrich Boy]

We must protect the deserts, rain forests (formerly known as "jungles"), glaciers, blah blah blah.

I am shocked at your unconcern for wetlands (formerly "swamps")

[Dog Gone]

ROFL

[Daralundy]

What shall we rename deserts? Drylands?

[trailboss800]

The world puts such credence in the opinions of those who "...are blown about by every wind...". I love to read about the latest study by the "science fiction" community. It's better than reading the Sunday comics...

[encm(ss)]

Turn the desserts to glass. Much easier to clean.

[ClaireSolt]

Figures the desert center would be in England!

[ClearCase_guy]

At least 25 percent of the Earth's surface -- 33.7 million square kilometres (13 million square miles) -- has been defined as desert

I suppose it's just bad wording, but if three-quarters of the earth's surface is covered by water, and 25 percent is defined as desert, well ... something ain't right.

[Perdogg]

Less Dessert?? Never!

[Cobra64]

[Kay Ludlow]

This, plus sustainable eco-tourism

Funny, eco-tourism is also the answer to sustainability in all the rural areas of the US. Eco-tourism can replace manufacturing, high-tech, finance, and every other sector of the economy in all parts of the world! /sarcasm off.

Seriously, in Pennsylvania where DCNR is using it's regulatory powers to shut down what little industry is left and to stop any new businesses, they are telling the local governments that eco-tourism will replace all those jobs and tax revenue, and the area will be more economically vibrant than it ever has been. How many eco-tourists do they really think there are??? How can that possibly be a replacement for other sectors like manufacturing? Employees in the tourism industry are notoriously part-time and low pay, so that's not exactly a replacement for a mining or steel job...

[Revolting cat!]

Mmmmmmm... desserts!

[RJL]

So which is it? Are the water tables rising, or are the levels dropping? Are the aquifers being exhausted, or are they filling up? Asinine article.

All I know for sure is that $Billions of US dollars given to the UN is the solution.

[Army MP Retired]

... and this is bad , because??? I remember moving up the MSR from Kuwait to Baghdad... 50 mile stretches at a time with nothing - absolutely nothing, but dust... not even sand - just dust. No plants, no animals, no nothing - as far as you could see in all directions. Then suddenly, a little village of, guess what - dirt shacks. I remember thinking - just WTF are these people doing out here? LOL!

[razorback-bert]

West Texas,Eastern NM, the Four Corners have all been called the drylands for years.


I can't go to Chago Canyon and not think it was overproduction of the land that did them in, but they did not destroy the land. All the surronding land where no one lived looks just the same.

I can't go to Mesa Verde and not wonder what in the hell were those people so scared of?

[TheCrusader]

"Hotter temperatures have meant glaciers are receding, meaning there is less water to sustain deserts in places like Central Asia and both sides of the South American Andes."

This is lunacy, receding glaciers do not equal 'less water'.