Abu Dhabi: The United Arab Emirates has made significant progress in addressing and combating desertification by implementing proactive measures and innovative initiatives aimed at expanding agricultural land and mitigating the impact of desertification. Observed tomorrow, 17th June, the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought emphasizes the UAE's strategic approach to managing the challenges posed by high temperatures and low rainfall.
According to Emirates News Agency, the UAE continues to pursue the goals outlined in the National Strategy to Combat Desertification 2022-2030. This strategy focuses on preserving ecosystems, improving arid lands, adapting to climate change effects, raising awareness, integrating scientific research, and strengthening cooperation at various levels. A Cabinet meeting on 3rd February reviewed key achievements under the strategy, including the rehabilitation of 1,800 hectares of degraded land, improvement of 378.2 square kilometers of land, reduction of degraded land to 1.2 percent, and stabilization of 98.8 percent of land areas. Soil carbon stability was recorded at 98.2 percent.
The UAE has developed a smart soil monitoring system using artificial intelligence, conducted 96 scientific studies under the rain enhancement science program, and implemented 25 projects in saline and desert agriculture. Studies on drought, heat, and salinity tolerance of 325 plant species were also undertaken.
Several initiatives have been launched to enhance land ecosystems, including sustainable grazing projects, a land degradation neutrality program, and the development of gene banks for native desertification-resistant plants. The UAE has also implemented an early warning and forecasting program for sand and dust storms, and initiatives on green belts and urban forest management.
Efforts to combat desertification include reclaiming desert land, establishing artificial forests and green spaces, reducing overgrazing and deforestation, focusing on rain enhancement research, building dams, promoting treated water use, and launching awareness campaigns.
The UAE has reinforced its commitment to global desertification efforts by joining international environmental conventions, including the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in 1998. In line with its obligations, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, in cooperation with strategic partners, developed the first national desertification strategy in 2003, updated in 2014, with the current strategy covering 2022-2030.
The UAE has transformed desert areas into green landscapes, parks, and farms, establishing around 49 terrestrial and marine nature reserves to reduce land degradation and promote environmental sustainability. It is also among the first countries in the region to adopt artificial rain enhancement to combat desertification, increase green cover, boost water reserves, and mitigate climate change effects.