Do you think it is realistic to consider afforestation of deserts, including the Sahara?
Here are some arguments:
1. The Sahara was probably not a desert before, there were rivers and vegetation.
2. At least partial afforestation of the Sahara would clearly improve Africa's economic conditions.
3. Stop the spread of the desert, resp. its reduction is technically possible, as evidenced by the Chinese, who are effectively preventing the spread of the desert to some of their large cities. Israel also owns and develops the necessary technologies.
4. It is proven that the existence of a forest belt on the coast (approximately 200 km wide) will significantly affect the climate and precipitation conditions further inland. This is, for example, the problem of weaker precipitation activity in Central Europe due to declining forests further on the Atlantic coast (support of so-called small water cycle).
5. The project could serve as a "hunger wall" to increase employment on a large social project.
6. It is a great challenge and a unique long-term opportunity for politicians and capital. In my opinion, better and more real than conquering Mars.
Certainly this will be a good step for improving climate and economic condition in the area, and could be possible at least along the Mediterranean coast.
Please see the link
Article Irrigated afforestation of the Sahara and Australian Outback...
For now it would be sufficient to support initiatives to revegetate arid and semiarid areas of the Sahel zone where there is desertification, i.e. no vegetation reappearing by itself. These are 160 million hectars in need and with possibility for restoration, as shown by FAO 2016. You would not destroy any ecosystem here (because it has already been denaturated), the technology is there and the affected African countries (CEN-SAD, AUC) are on their way to implement local strategies, together with international support. The reason of global climate crisis and CO2 sequestration however definitely is not the main reason, rather security of food and jobs.
I looked it up, and to clarify the FAO identified in their "Global Drylands Assessment" (2016) some 166 million hectars of a total territory of 780 million ha of the Sahel and other Sahara border areas that are degraded and feasible for restoration. So this undertaking is certainly tackling the matter from the borders of the desert. Major problem to be considered probably is that irrigation of hyperarid ground can easily lead to salinization...
the idea of making desert to become forest is not a new one. it has been done in Libya where a Canal was constructed. However in the context of climatology, two source of water are vital to wet the land (the rainfall and the underground water. In the case of Sahara desert, there is total absence of rainfall due to hot climatic pattern. While the underground water is also have low water table. the deterministic approach to this problem is the construction of canals to channel water to various destinations in the affected countries the falls within the desert fringes. if it so happen then we apply irrigation and plant varieties of plant species that can adopt to new weather.
No I do not think afforestation is necessary as it will introduce new demands for soil and water conservation in the already vulnerable ecosystems. Plus you will be shocked that these ecosystems have their own benefits in the ecosystems apart from providing aesthetic beauty
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