Since 2018, new records have been set in terms of droughts, hottest months and driest years in centuries. The drought, heat and pests have been affecting the forests more and more since 2019 and unfortunately there is no improvement in sight in 2020 either. In Germany there was the most severe forest damage in over 200 years. Fires and storms have greater effects, because of the large amount of damaged wood and the tree damage, there are more problems with pests and fungal attack. Fine dust and environmental toxins from agriculture give many plants and animals the rest, especially insects such as bees suffer from environmental destruction. Air pollution, insecticides and pesticides are not only a danger for bees, they also endanger many other species, especially in areas of agriculture and livestock farms. Many of the typical trees and forests in forestry are monocultures and conifers such as douglas firs, spruces, pines, larches and firs – unfortunately they do not offer much nectar. Almost 80 percent of the conifers were felled because of damage. At just under 70 percent, the proportion of damaged wood in 2019 was more than three times as high as in 2010. As already described in the article on the Leipzig Oak Park of Diversity project, even strong tree species such as oaks are affected. Whether from pests, powdery mildew or drought stress, the plants suffer very badly from drought. Like many deciduous trees, oaks are deep-rooted, which draw water from the lower soil layers. What they don’t need themselves, they release closer to the surface. This makes oak a good soil regulator, for example through its pronounced symbioses with microorganisms and fungi. Oaks and other robust trees suffer from climate change, as do many people and animals. Damage to trees and forests is not only caused by fire, drought and heat waves, but also by fungus, pests, snow breaks, storms, floods and environmental toxins – as well as air and water pollution.
There are around four billion hectares of forest on earth. There are around 60,000 tree species worldwide and over 10,000 of them are threatened with extinction. According to an assessment by the World Conservation Union (IUCN), more than half of European tree species are endangered. Of the approximately 450 tree species, 265 do not occur on any other continent. More than 150 species are threatened, 66 species are at the highest level of endangerment and therefore close to extinction. In total, more than 28,000 animal and plant species are listed as endangered worldwide. These are data and statistics from recent years and some of the figures are already out of date, especially after the massive droughts and forest fires. It can be assumed that many more species are now threatened and in some regions even extinct.
According to climate research, long-term studies and weather experts, extreme drought is becoming normal in Europe in summer. In spring there is also a lack of water for healthy plant growth in many places around the world. The soils and forests can hold less water because the important reservoirs are not only dried out but damaged, i.e. the storage capacity is reduced and in some cases reduced for years. If middle and deeper soil layers harden, humus layers decay to dust or are destroyed, even a lot of rain does not help at first. It then takes years of moderate rain and much plant growth until these soil layers are loosened and watered again. Trees, hedges and other plants that can form complex, strong and deep roots need a few years to loosen middle and deep soil layers. Many plants lose branches, leaves and fruit during a drought or extreme drought. The proportion of trees with significant crown thinning increased to about 35 percent in 2019. If the trees and plants are generally weakened, they are more susceptible to parasites and other pests such as bark beetles, jewel beetles and processionary moth. In most cases, the damaged wood cannot remain in the forest. Much of this wood is not suitable for wood processing or high-quality products for the construction and furniture industries. Often the only option left is to process it into inferior wood products such as chipboard or wood pellets. A lot of damaged wood has been coming onto the market since 2018 and the price of wood has collapsed dramatically, the forecasts for 2021 and 2022 do not look any better. There is currently so much wood per year that would normally be enough for three years or more. The forest and wood industries are recording massive losses, and even cheap oak is already being sold as firewood. Forest companies and forest owners will have to work for a long time to compensate and repair the damage of recent years.
Future challenges, conflicts, wars and crises because of the worldwide water availability and water supply
The water reserves in the soil are becoming increasingly scarce, the soils are becoming drier overall. It has been relatively dry in Germany since 2015. The past two years exceeded the previous record drought of 1976. At that time it was exceptionally dry for five years and some tree species were replaced or supplemented by drought-resistant species such as hornbeam, service tree and field maple. But the adaptation of forests to the crisis and forest restructuring makes no sense if the groundwater will levels sink, lakes, rivers and water reservoirs partially dry up. Dry periods in winter are also a big problem, because when there is no snow there is much less water due to the melting of snow. The problem has been known for a long time, for example the lack of water supply due to the disappearance of glaciers and large areas of snow or ice. When mountains and oceans absorb more sun, the planet heats up even faster, especially at the North Pole. Fires and very hot times in northern areas of Russia also accelerate the thawing of the permafrost soil. Similar to the largest share of the greenhouse gas methane from agriculture or livestock farming, methane is released by the decomposition of the thawed biomass. As this happens in a very short time, the atmosphere, biosphere and weather systems cannot simply compensate for this, resulting in extreme climate changes and an increase in extreme weather conditions. For some years now, climate researchers have been able to prove the connection between extreme drought and severe flooding. In the meantime, there have been several fires, droughts and floods of the century, not only in Germany and Europe – but unfortunately also in Africa, America, Asia and India.
According to various surveys, around 80 percent are very concerned about the persistent drought. In France, Poland, the Czech Republic and other European countries, the spring was marked by low rainfall this year. French forests are very much endangered by the drought years and the hot summer of 2019. It was one of the deadliest heat waves in all of Europe, killing thousands of humans. The harmful effects of the droughts can be clearly seen on satellite images, many brown and gray fields in Europe and many large cities such as Berlin are affected. It affects especially regions in the north and east, in principle all federal states are affected. The cities in particular need more greenery, as they can heat up much more as the surrounding area. What you see more and more often are dry meadows, trees and bushes. The parks and water areas are therefore just as important as the greening of roofs and facades. The soil moisture, the total groundwater level and the groundwater levels in different regions of Germany are too low, at least in relation to normal amounts of precipitation and water levels. In April 2020, there was far too little rainfall in almost all federal states; the states of Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony and Thuringia were particularly affected. The soil moisture in the topsoil and total soil is simply too little for many plants. Due to the lack of water available to plants, drought stress or water stress quickly occurs. The photosynthesis of the plants and the growth decrease. If the usable soil water continues to fall, plant water stress occurs and the plants begin to dry up.
The drought monitor of the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research showed that the total soil in large parts of Germany was characterized by extreme to extraordinary drought in April and midsummer 2020. Similar to the drought monitor from the Environmental Research Center in Leipzig, there is also a research project in Switzerland called Drought CH or Trockenheit.ch, where information on the current situation is shown. The colleagues also summarize a lot of interesting data from the last few years. Such information is becoming more and more important, especially if conflicts over water resources increase in the future, whether in the energy industry for cooling or in agriculture for agricultural irrigation. It affects many European countries. If the water reserves become increasingly scarce, conflicts of use over water resources can be intensified considerably. The use of water, water resources and water management must become more economical or more sustainable so that there is not another water crisis in the next few years. Using ponds, water towers and underground water reservoirs to collect rainwater makes more and more sense, especially when you consider that around 80 percent of all irrigation throughout Germany is done with groundwater. An increasing demand for water from agriculture contrasts with other usage interests and problems, such as the public supply of drinking water, over 70 percent of which is obtained from groundwater. In addition, forests consume a lot of groundwater in dry times, this can affect rivers and other waters. The drought year 2018 and 2019 severely dried out many soils and water reservoirs, to compensate this it takes many years of rain above the usual annual average. Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Saxony-Anhalt and Saxony are the federal states with the lowest rainfall. Specific figures can be found on the relevant weather portals and statistics pages.
Forest dieback, desertification and expanding deserts in Europe
Due to the third year of drought in a row, there will also be considerable problems for the plant world in winter and spring 2020, as many soils and plants will not be able to recover so easily under these extreme conditions. The garden, park and forest maintenance is therefore more important than ever this year, every citizen should lend a hand in his spare time, even if it are just a few buckets of water for the tree in front of the door or some irrigation for bushes, hedges or trees at the streets. Unfortunately, awareness of sustainable use and the problem of water waste is still not taken seriously. The production of one kilo of beef requires around 15,000 liters of water, pork almost 6,000 and chicken 4,300 liters. The average water footprint in Germany is 3,900 liters per person per day. This figure includes the amount of water that is used for the production of consumed food and goods in one’s own country, but also the water that is needed, for example, for the manufacture of clothing or electrical appliances abroad. This also applies to ‘more ecological’ electric cars, which unfortunately are still made with a lot of coal, plastic and oil. The coal electricity for car production and rail traffic alone is astronomical.
2019 was the hottest year in the history of Europe, according to scientific findings, with the drought year 2018 and the drought summer 2020, it is now the worst drought in a row for 250 years. The droughts and heat waves of recent years clearly show that the climate crisis is having a significant impact on our lives, the environment, consumption and our economy. An adaptation of the plants to the more extreme climate occurs naturally, but should be supported and improved by sustainable strategies of climate change adaptation. This should not only apply to crops or to livestock, but also especially to endangered species. The selfish nature, way of life and work in certain areas of society and industry, such as fossil energy, monotonous agriculture and forestry, is harming the environment. Selfishness, ignorance and little will to change in the direction of sustainability, nature and environmental protection have produced a destructive chemical industry, energy industry, aviation, shipping, heavy industry, monoculture agriculture and monotonous forestry.
The biodiversity, soil and water quality have suffered extremely, valuable landscapes and habitats have been destroyed or have been lost due to rigorous greed for profit and environmental degradation. If things continue like this, even regardless of the climate crisis, there will soon be no more fertile land, only dust and desert. Greening Deserts Climate analyses and long-term studies, in coordination with international climate researchers and climate models, have repeatedly confirmed an increase in extreme weather conditions – even before the drought years or floods of the century, as in Europe and India in 2018 and 2019. There have been several warnings that extreme droughts and floods will become more frequent in Europe, initially in southern Europe and, with further drought years, also in central Europe. This has now even been confirmed in a study by the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) in Leipzig. Now all we need are realistic solutions and feasibility studies to counteract these extremely rapid changes. A wind of change is blowing.
Usually the jet stream with the high and low pressure areas moves from west to east and brings Central Europe a mix of sun, clouds and rain. However, with the accelerated climate change, the high pressure areas tend to persist for weeks over some European regions in summer. As a result, there are long heat waves and droughts, in the low-pressure areas there are more frequent heavy rain and floods. Various temperature and heat records have been set over the years, in 2020 there were many cold summer nights and very large temperature fluctuations. Due to the many dry and windy days, the drought has increased overall. The logging caused by wind and storm damage amounted to 18.5 million cubic meters in 2018. That is four times as much compared to the previous year. There are many forest fires because the soil and top layers with branches, leaves or needles are very dry. The risk of fire is also very high for agriculture, especially when dry fields catch fire, for example from careless drivers and smokers or from broken glass. A field fire, forest fire or forest fire is no fun because it can spread to settlements.
In many German cities there is a state of emergency, as the asphalt and concrete deserts often heat up more than the surrounding areas can quickly reach heat records of over 40 degrees. Many people, animals and plants die. In the Frankfurt metropolitan area, thousands of dead trees will probably have to be felled due to the weeks of drought and heat in the midsummer 2020. Particularly in the driest areas of Germany, many villages and towns are affected by the tree death. Due to the drought stress and plant water stress that has damaged and weakened the plants over the years, a relatively short heat phase is enough to give the plants the rest, then often watering them does not help. On the contrary, too much water at once can even damage the plants, for example if the plant cannot absorb much water due to a large part of dried up leaves, there is then a risk of accelerated root rot at the high temperatures, which can occur more often with tap water and dried out roots. If many of the deeper soil layers have completely dried out, the water cannot drain off properly, and waterlogging then forms in some places. Gardeners and plant experts know the problem. So if possible use rainwater and then not too much at once, preferably over a large area and spread over a few evenings. If the soil is not too hard, you can put drainage in some places with a pointed stick. If the soil is slightly damp overall, the rainwater can then penetrate better into deeper layers and root areas.
Climate change knows no borders, large parts of Europe are affected by drought and water scarcity. We need an adaptation and improvement of the water management or regulation as soon as possible in order to secure the public drinking water and industrial water supply in the long term. The fear of the consequences of a third year of drought is great, especially if the water table drops, entire rivers and lakes dry up. The drought threatens historical gardens and even well-known parks, the drought also has an indirect effect on all plant growth in the area. Only if the spread of healthy and relatively wild nature is promoted by favorable conditions nature as a whole can recover and regenerate. In the case of monoculture agriculture and monotonous forestry, this is difficult, but not impossible. Some consequences can only be felt years later, as environmental and weather systems sometimes react very slowly. It is similar to the nitrate or slurry problem, where in some extreme cases the groundwater wil be polluted over the years.
Really serious consequences for agriculture are still to come, probably in the years 2025 to 2030. From 2013 to 2015 there have been massive changes in global weather systems and cycles. Many of these changes also occur gradually and over long periods of time, so they cannot be seen as clearly as the consequences of a drought summer. So that you can really change something sustainably and positively, you should think in time windows of over 10 years or even decades. It is frightening to see even natural mixed forests which are suffering from climate change. The drought years even have a strong impact on humid areas, as the groundwater level often falls due to the long dry periods. Wetlands and bogs can dry out, which increases the likelihood of bog and forest fires. In addition, there are the problems of peat extraction and the drainage of landscapes for agriculture. The diverse forest conversion and the expansion of wetlands such as floodplains and moors must finally be given priority. Many nature reserves, national parks, natural regions and near-natural landscape protection areas should be expanded and connected, if possible for example with flower strips and wild meadows. Protected areas in nature and landscape protection should also be expanded and include urban regions and larger city parks or city forests. Special wilderness biotopes for a relatively free development of really ’natural nature’ should be made possible in the protected areas. Because nature is not the same as nature, at least according to the understanding of society and people.
Soil quality and healthier soils through more ecological forestry and sustainable agriculture, as well as better water management, are important to mitigate the negative consequences and effects of climate change. The already often mentioned building up of humus, cultivation of deep-rooting plants, soil improvement and green manure plants can contribute significantly to soil formation and improvement of the overall soil. Protective layers with ground cover and wildflower meadows can protect the soil in particularly hot and dry times. The principle applies, just let it grow and support nature in the development of biodiversity with natural seeds. Naturally with suitable species depending on the region and vegetation zone, i.e. suitable plants of / for mountainous areas, wetlands, grasslands, meadows and forests. To do this, one should think more about aquatic plants and then use them to improve water bodies. Because a large part of the rivers and lakes in Germany is in a precarious state, at least when it comes to the ecological aspect, neighboring agriculture, shipping and biodiversity. Without ecosystem services, human life on earth would not be possible. Worldwide, around 60% of the ecosystem services examined by the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment are in a critical state; they are at great risk from environmental pollution and environmental damage.
We all have to help make whole landscapes more diverse and resistant to climate extremes, including urban regions and cities – for this purpose, among other things, the Urban Greening Camp project started. More urban greening, solar and water surfaces as well as lighter surfaces can cool down urban areas, so-called for near-natural recreation areas and biological diversity. Agriculture based on solidarity and community gardens are also good solutions that can bring more biodiversity and community profits.
Here are a few more suggestions for improvement.
Professional advice and recommendation to good addresses and contacts in the above areas for corresponding consideration is possible, for this you can simply contact the author of this article by email.
Greening Deserts analyses and research projects have been dealing with climate change and extreme weather conditions such as exceptional heat, drought and floods since 2016. Despite all the optimism, the prognosis for the coming years does not look rosy. It takes a lot of effort, motivation and support to be able to work and live normally throughout the crisis. Cohesion is more important than ever in these times, egoism and ignorance only make things worse. We need more solidarity and courage, whether through useful information, the exchange of experiences or other meaningful actions. Simply going out into the streets unfortunately does not bring as much as taking part in constructive actions and actively participating in constructive actions for species protection, climate protection, nature conservation and environmental protection. For example planting trees, watering urban trees and plants, sowing wildflowers and caring for parks and meadows. Leaving this to others like the green space authorities or city cleaning is not a solution. In some countries or regions the corona crisis can result in massive financial problems and financial crises. There will be a lack of funds and resources for many of important environmental tasks or work in future. We all need to hold together in relation to the health of us all and the environment. Healthy ecosystems are the basis for a healthy life.
The global economic crisis and COVID-19 recession (Great Lockdown) will occupy society and the economy for many years to come. In principle there are several crises, e.g. the education crisis, health crisis, cultural crisis and social crisis. Greening Deserts articles also deal with these topics, especially in relation to the effects, consequences and causes of climate change. Many potential solutions are offered, but most of them can only be solved together – some of the suggestions have already been implemented personally or privately. I hope that many will follow. Good additions, ideas and suggestions for improvement are of course always welcome. @ feedback.greeningdeserts.com. Your friend of nature, Oliver Gediminas Caplikas. The next article deals with climate change adaptation and urban greening on many levels, for example with vertical farming. Heat-resistant and drought-tolerant plant species as well as special climate change woody plants will play an important role. Some of the plants are even drought-resistant or have a high ‘drought resistance’.
Climate protection, nature conservation and environmental protection is also species protection. These topics are important not only for the International Climate Week and international world days such as Arbor Day, World Tree Day or World Forest Day. In these times humanity has to deal with important climate problems in relation to the economy, ecology, environmental protection, nature conservation and sustainability almost every day, week, month and year. Like the corona crisis, the climate crisis knows no borders. It concerns us all. Global environmental awareness, sustainable living, more sustainable work and production can improve the climate and reduce human-made climate change effects, such as man-made deforestation, desertification and global warming. We can cool planet earth with more green landscapes, urban greening and diverse forests worldwide. Grasslands and wetlands play a special role in this.
Show that you can live and work really sustainably by saving energy, food, water and other natural resources. Reduce waste and pollution, especially plastic waste. Use alternative packaging and ecological products like bamboo or hemp products like Hemp Papers or Rice Straw Papers. Reduce deforestation, desertification and land degradation by using alternative heating and ecological building materials instead of wood. Do more for green places in your city, try to establish more community gardens, city parks, city forests, urban farming areas, fascade and rooftop gardens. The future of sustainable agriculture is ecofarming, aquaponics, hydroponics, permaculture, organic and vertical farming – even in urban areas. With urban greening on a large scale urban areas can help to cool down planet earth. Cleantech, greentech, green building, sustainable living, sustainable working and sustainable architecture is the future of sustainable building, sustainable production and sustainable cities. With large-scale urban greening, urban areas can help cool down planet earth. We all can learn a lot of desert cultures and desert cities, bedouins and indigenous people in arid landscapes or drylands. Many towns and regions around the Mediterranean Sea are also good examples, doing things like choosing light colors for their houses and roofs – but still missing more green roofs and rooftop solar on the buildings. Fascade greening and fascade solar could be a good addition to urban development in future. We need to be fast because of the desertification and rising droughts in Europe. The deserts and drylands of Africa are moving toward South Europe!
House boats or ships, mobile housing and underwater buildings can expand architecture and environmentally friendly habitats. Bamboo, hemp wood, rice straw building materials and fuels could reduce deforestation significantly. These methods would accelerate the process towards more climate neutral houses and urban areas. And again, the future of real sustainable cities, energy and traffic transition is AI and Cleantech, Energy Efficiency and Green Building, Greentech and Sustainable Architecture, Sustainable Living and Urban Greening, Sustainable Production and Sustainable Consumption, Sustainable Transport and Sustainable Working, Transparent Solar concepts and designs. Sustainable Agriculture, Ecological Forestry and Organic Farming in relation to community gardening, aquaponics, hydroponics, worldwide greening and permaculture projects can support the changes or transitions. Not to forget Sustainable Aviation, Sustainable Shipping and Sustainable Tourism. Think about new markets like a Plastic Fishing Market and Recycling Ships for example.
A good formula for real sustainable living and sustainable working is: Repair, Reuse, Recycle, Replace and Upcycle. – especially plastic. #RRRRU
Greening Deserts sustainable projects and initiatives such as Greening Camps and the Trillion Trees Initiative focuses on climate protection, education, research, the environment and species protection. We not only want to reforest or regreen the man-made deserts, arid areas and wasteland in Europe and Africa, we want also to create international platforms for sustainable economy, education, culture and science. The greening camps will also be climate camps and research camps for innovative cleantech and greentech developments. The camps will involve every region and culture in the greening and development process. The camps will also be a platform for the respective regions, with training and education in the foreground. There will be additional spaces or rooms for a library, lounge, workshop and a media room. This can enable many community activities and different types of events to be carried out, also online and virtually. International institutions, organizations, partners, projects, investors and sponsors are cordially invited to join our community network and projects!
There is a wide range of information about these topics, including innovative developments and real sustainable solutions to solve climate crisis, food, energy and water problems with global impact. Most of the solutions were confirmed by science and feasibility studies or similar concepts. International institutions and organizations were informed many times about Greening Deserts concepts, project developments and connected projects. @Agrophotovoltaik, Desert Bamboo Africa, Greening Coasts, Greening Drones, Greenhouse Ship, Green Ring Africa, Great Green Wall North Africa, Seeding Balloon, Transparent Solar,…
We not only need more actions, initiatives and innovations in the field of climate protection, nature and environmental protection. We need more action and effective solutions in relation to sustainable living and sustainable working in all areas, from big to small! Because the main problem and the main cause of the pollution are not only the car, coal and heavy industry, as well as agriculture, but it is every single one who causes and pushs the global warming and other negative climate changes by its consumption. This over-consumption and overproduction especially in areas of unhealthy monoculture food, IT technology, X-cars, smartphones and other pointless products are not just excessive waste but a meaningless destruction of resources and lives. Why should every year billions of animals and other life forms (animals and plants) die for humans if they can not even consume so many products. In some countries more than the half is thrown away, much products outdate or spoil because it is not effectively distributed or shared. Hundreds of millions of children go hungry every day and at the same time so many destroy and waste foods. In terms of food for example, one should improve preservation, logistics and distribution systems, use sustainable transport, drying and refrigeration systems more effectively worldwide instead of continuing to produce more – clearly, the solution is generally fairer distribution or sharing. If you extrapolate everything, the world produces food for over 10 billion people, countless mobile phones and notebooks for every single person.
Why do humans need so many products – more than they can even consume? Most of it becomes garbage. Metals, plastics and toxins get into the environment and sometimes even into our food. Recycling uses a lot of energy and resources. We need radical changes through more sustainable, cleaner and more sensible procurement, energy use, supply chains and production; we need intelligent, on-demand systems everywhere, so that products worldwide will be produced only as needed. In some cases, of course, essential products must be stored or produced for stock, like basic food or products like rice, for example. There should be reserves and storage for emergency cases, fast–rising demands or other critical things. But we and the world really don’t need hundreds of the same products that will become junk or scrap. Producers worldwide need to improve their operations in these areas, establishing Cleantech, Greentech, Sustainability, AI and On-Demand Systems. Large companies, as well as corporations, should simply produce less and only based on real demand by real consumers. At the very least, products which are constantly not consumed or thrown away – many meats such as chicken, pork and beef – should not be overproduced. They produce not only manure and methane which produce particulate matter, but they or the production wastes water and pollutes the groundwater and the environment in the long term.
We finally need a rethink in forestry and agriculture in terms of a more sustainable economy like Agroforestry, EcoFarming, EcoForestry, Mixed Culture and Permaculture. According to the latest findings and long-term studies, agriculture is responsible for most of the air pollution (approximately 40 percent) and the resulting water pollution! Years of deforestation had dried out whole landscapes and caused massive loss of wetlands, bogs and marshlands which can convert toxins and store up to fifty times as much CO2 as rainforests. Additionally, liquid manure and methane are a massive problem because the gases in the atmosphere create new fine dust, contaminating the groundwater for many years to come. In the coming Greening Camps, not only should these areas be researched, but also research the fields of green and clean technologies. The focus is on aquaponics, hydroponics, greenhouse, biowaste and water management, as well as new urban farming innovations.
Droughts in Germany and Europe: Drought threatens soils, agriculture and forests
It has been relatively dry in Germany since 2015, and the drought and heat waves in 2018 have seriously affected the environment. The soils of the forest are partly drier than the soils of grassland or greenland. The soil has dried out, even down to the deep layers. The groundwater very often sinks below critical levels, which significantly effects forests and bodies of water such as rivers and lakes. The water reserves are becoming increasingly scarce. Conflicts of use because of water scarcity can be exacerbated considerably. Water use and water management must become more economical and more sustainable so that there won’t be a real water crisis in the years to come. Using ponds, water towers and underground water reservoirs to collect rainwater makes more and more sense. This can be done with foils, trenches, solar pumps and agrophotovoltaic surfaces. Intelligent drip irrigation also saves a lot of water, because in dry times an incredible amount of water is wasted through irrigation or evaporation.
The fear of the consequences of another year of drought after 2019 is great, especially when drinking water becomes scarce and entire rivers or lakes dry out. After the exceptionally dry April and July, the probability of another year of drought becomes greater, but this cannot be definitively said until the end of 2020. Persistent drought threatens biodiversity, botanical gardens and well-known parks, even if many plants are watered; the aridity of the surrounding area has an indirect effect on all plant growth. An unhealthy environment in the neighborhood also affects healthy areas in the region; only if the spread of healthy nature is promoted by favorable conditions, can nature as a whole recover and regenerate. This is difficult, however, with monocultures, polluting agriculture and monotonous forestry. It is possible to change into a more sustainable agriculture and ecological forestry, still this year.
Since environmental and weather systems sometimes react very slowly, some consequences can only be felt years later, similar to the nitrate or slurry problem, where in some extreme cases the groundwater is still polluted years later. Many of the slow and creeping processes will have really serious consequences for agriculture. We will all have to live with the short-term and long-term effects of the climate crisis. Like nature, we can adapt to a certain extent, but active reduction of the problems and causes are of critical importance. Air quality is particularly important, because this also affects bodies of water and groundwater. According to the latest scientific research, air pollution from agriculture is even higher than pollution from traffic and the coal industry combined. This is not only due to the fine dust from dry fields, slurry spreading, keeping four, etc.; a big problem is the ammonia, which creates new fine dust in higher atmospheric layers. In the end, everything ends up in the water affectingthe water cycle and water quality.
Soil quality and healthier soils through more complex or versatile forestry and more ecological agriculture, as well as better water management, are important to mitigate the consequences of climate change. The use of humus generating plants, deep roots, soil improvement and green manure plants can significantly contribute to soil formation and improvement of the overall soil. Some plants even have the potential to save the climate. Industrial hemp, for example, and hemp plants promote biodiversity and improve the moisture content; the leaves and plant roots can also form humus. The pronounced roots loosen the soil. The hemp fibers of the stems can be used for hemp paper, hemp cardboard and other packaging. Undemanding types of hemp are suitable for this, as they can cope well with drought and do not have to be fertilized.
Protective layers with ground cover and wildflower meadows can protect the soil in particularly hot and dry times. The principle applies, just let it grow and support nature in the development of biodiversity with natural seeds. Work naturally with suitable species depending on the region and vegetation zone, i.e. suitable plants for mountainous areas, wetlands, grasslands, meadows and forests. To do this, one should think more about aquatic plants which can be used to improve water bodies. A large part of the rivers and lakes in Germany are in a precarious state, at least when it comes to the ecological aspect, neighboring agriculture, shipping and loss of biodiversity. This is also a problem of other European states. The economy and politics really need to care about the ongoing desertification and rising droughts in Europe. The deserts and drylands of Africa moving towards South Europe! The southern regions need fast climate adaption models and resilience plans to prevent worst case scenarious. Droughts, floods and rising fires are just the tip of the iceberg.
We all have to help make whole landscapes more diverse and more resistant to climate extremes, including urban regions and cities. For this purpose, among other things, the Urban Greening Camp project started. Solidarity agriculture and community gardens are also a good solution which can bring more biodiversity and community profits. Show courage, solidarity and support for a healthy nature and more sustainable life on planet Earth. Show that you can really live and work sustainably by using energy or electricity, water and natural resources sparingly. Avoid overconsumption and pollution, especially plastic and air pollution from cars, planes and ships. Avoid environmental pollution of any kind, especially through the use of fossil fuels and polluting fuels such as coal. Reduce plastic waste and uses alternative materials such as bamboo, hemp and rice straw paper. Remember your human connection to the planet, and work for a better and fairer climate.
Clean air, fresh water and a healthy environment are human rights. Climate protection, nature protection and environmental protection are also plant protection, animal protection and human protection or species protection, in general! We should all be more aware about climate justice and environmental justice; especially in future when a huge part of humanity will be affected by the climate crisis, extreme weather and rising sea levels.
Short summary:
Greening Deserts sustainable projects and initiatives such as Greening Camps and the Trillion Trees Initiative have been working on sustainable projects for society, a healthier nature and a more diverse environment for years. The projects mainly serve the protection of species and environmental protection. We want to reforest or regreen man-made deserts, arid regions and wastelands in Europe and Africa, as well as create international platforms for more sustainable research, economy, education, culture and science. The greening camps will also be climate and research camps for innovative cleantech and greentech developments. The camps can include almost any region and culture in the greening and development process. Larger camps will have an energy storage park and maybe even expanded to a cleantech and greentech campus or science park.
We are proud to announce two new Greening Camp projects. ☀💚☀
Greening Camp Egypt and Greening Camp Rwanda project development started with some awesome people from Africa. We will present the development teams this year. The goal is to finish the first stage during the summer. We will develop, promote and support education, climate, environmental awareness, healthy and sustainable living and working solutions. Together with the Billion Trees Campaigns and Tillion Trees Initiative we will reforest and revegetate man-made deserts, especially drylands and wastelands in Africa. Natural Habitats, Game Reserves, WildLife Reserves and Environmental Protection plays a very important role at Greening Deserts projects.
We will create healthy environments like natural gardens, parks and forests together with each involved region. Goals are also to restore natural landscapes like mixed forests, grasslands and wetlands – to bring back diversity, clean air and water. The Energy Storage Park for each bigger greening and research camp will guarantee clean energy supply and energy security.
Greening Camp Egypt project development started and we will present the development team until summer. We want to start with first building and joint development work until late summer. With support by the African community and African Union (AU) we can build the camp maybe even faster. The focus is on research, cleantech, renewable energy, greentech, greenhouse and water management, sustainable farming, greening and ecological forestry. Conservation, environmental protection, preservation of diversity and wildlife plays a very important role, too. We will support building new habitats and game reserves. Afforestation.org
The main goals and tasks of the project are the education and integration of the region around the camp in the conservation and greening process. We want to offer exhibitions, excursions, guided tours, training courses and seminars. Providing information about environment, culture, history, landscapes, nature, society, clean and green technologies. #Afforestation, #Camp, #Conservation, #Diversity, #CleanTech, #EcoFarming, #EcoForestry, #Egypt, #GreenTech, #SciencePark, #TrillionTrees
Informed hundreds of ambassadors, ministers, trade commissioners, scientists and experts to join Greening Deserts campaigns, initiatives and projects – especially the Billion Trees Project and the Trillion Trees Initiative! All nations are welcome to support us. International partners, institutions, sponsors and investors are welcome to join us in this early stage. @Greening Camps, Greening Coasts, Greening Drones, Greenhouse Ship, Green Ring Africa, Great Green Wall North Africa 💚💚💚💚💚
Greening Deserts visited the climate camp Klimacamp Leipziger Land in Pödelwitz and exchanged with many awesome people about climate changes, coal, environment, environmental protection, conservation, nature, system changes and a lot of alternatives and solutions for a fast and efficient coal exit. It’s not just possible but urgent to save the environment, animals, humans, plants and all life forms from extinction, especially in the concerned regions.
Coal mining, burning or coal-fired generation causing a massive toxification of air, soils and water. The air pollution going around the world and like global warming it affects all humans and nations around the world. Mostly the poor people or communities suffer the most, because the coal industries destroying also their environments, even if they are on the other side of the world. This is not just unfair, it’s against any ethical and moral principles. It’s also a crime against humanity and violating many Fundamental Rights and Human Rights! Where is the justice and true rule of law.
Another massive problem with the coal is the radiation. The Swiss environmental network and BUND Germany published important articles and scientific reports about this issue: “Coal mining produces radioactive excavated material, mine water and radioactive particulate matter that is released into the environment. Coal transport with uncovered railway wagons also contributes to further distribution. If the coal is burned, the radioactive substances with the ashes get into the environment. Although filters in large-scale plants reduce the amount of radioactive ash by 99.5 percent, certain radioactive isotopes – for example, radon, lead and polonium – are still released into the environment. They become gaseous during combustion and can therefore hardly be removed from the exhaust air. The filter dusts must be safely stored as highly hazardous waste; for example, in a repository. This is because when burning the radioactive substances accumulate in the ashes: If the burned coal contains an ash content of five percent, so at the end of the combustion, the concentration of radioactive substances massively increased..” Thorium and uranium are another nuclear waste products caused by coal mining and concentrated by coal burning, the radioactive contamination is immense.
There are not just bad news. We have seen many good developments and news in so many fields. Two important things we exchanged about was that all the good alternatives and innovative solutions should be brought together (assembled or compiled) in one overview, so that everyone can understand and work better. The other thing is that Greening Deserts overworked the concept for the greening and research camps, it would be possible to establish a permanent climate camp in each bigger mining landscape. It would be a great platform for climate researchers and also for other scientists. The coal branch could see or understand that the potentials of a fast and effective coal exit are enourmous. More and better payed jobs could be created and the profits would be multiple times higher. It’s really complete nonsense to keep on with coal mining, not just because of the reasons stated here. Keep the coal in the ground and make peace with yourself and the humanity.
To a free discussion round we exchanged with some kids about good ideas for the panel. We had the idea to establish conservation, climate and environmental protection as fixed school subject in schools, at least once a week.
Another thing is to restore and recultivate old natural German landscapes which were very important for the water cycle and balancing the climate, environment and natural processes. We want to restore for example old wetlands like were destroyed by coal mining companies or other responsibles in the region of Leipzig. The region Leipzig was moorland landscape, alluvial or floodplain forest and now it’s much dryland or artifical lakeland. We need to create much more natural habitats and reservates there, more ancient plants and trees like bald zypresses and pin oaks. You must know wetlands are and were important for carbon capture or storage, a process known as carbon sequestration, holding up to 50 times as much carbon by area as rainforests! https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/feb/03/scientists-hope-wetland-carbon-storage-experiment-is-everyones-cup-of-tea
Further information:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coal_mining
https://futurism.com/air-pollution-kills-thousands-year
https://www.ucsusa.org/clean-energy/coal-impacts#.W2gITN9R272
https://beyond-coal.eu/2018/05/28/health-impacts-eu-coal-power-plants
https://www.cleanenergywire.org/factsheets/germanys-coal-exit-commission
https://www.cleanenergywire.org/factsheets/germanys-three-lignite-mining-regions
https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/air-pollution-leading-to-a-silent-genocide
https://www.politico.eu/article/air-pollution-linked-to-nearly-400000-premature-deaths
https://www.pri.org/stories/2018-04-21/coal-plant-emissions-damage-infant-dna-new-study-shows
https://www.psr.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/coals-assault-on-human-health.pdf
https://phys.org/news/2017-10-world-pollution-deadlier-wars-disasters.html
https://www.resilience.org/stories/2017-04-21/climate-change-genocide
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13642987.2014.914701
https://www.truthdig.com/articles/climate-change-as-genocide
..there are much more serious and scientific evidences that the air pollution caused by coal burning and coal mining kills humans, not just nearby coal-fired power plants or in coal power nations like China, USA, Russia, Poland, Germany,.. also all other nations are affected. The killing of people caused by coal combustion, gasification and mining is not better than any other genocide – also if it is passive and during a long time.
Update:
After the climate camp in the lignite mining region in Saxony nearby Leipzig the Klimacamp in the Rhineland started today and will run until 22th of August. The Climate Games Basel in Switzerland are still running. The climate camps are serious events with very diverse programms. It’s not just about climate change and global warming, but also about cultural, economic, ecologic, educational, social, scientific and much more imporant issues! Take a look on the websites for more details.
Don’t ignore or misunderstand these events and movements. They inform and share important climate and environmental themes, especially in relation to conservation, environmental protection, human-made climate changes and pollution. The main goal is to stop or block the coal mining, coal burning and coal-fired generation which is responsible for so much many deaths and the massive destruction of our environment and nature. Support all the great movements and organisations working for a fast and effective coal exit! Clean air and a healthy environment are Human Rights, too.
People wake up, finally – especially the responsibles! We need to establish environmental awarness and sustainability in so many fields or areas. It’s never to late to do so. There is a good Chinese proverb: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
Reduce and stop the worldwide ecocide and genocide by environmental pollution!
Update 2:
Houston we have a problem!
Human-made climate changes like global warming and air pollution (actual 9 million deaths in a year) killing millions of humans yearly! By coal plant emissions (coal burning and coal mining) and radiation of coal-fired plants and coal mines dying around a million. Is this not mass murdering or genocide? An interesting question, Human Rights organisations and international lawyers (bodies, courts, institutes and universities) for environmental rights, climate justice, business, health and Human Rights analysing and monitoring now the responsibles (key persons and companies). Special anti-corruption divisons are informed and criminal investigations will follow. Big thanks to Harvard and Washington University of Law and all the other universities with Human Rights departments who working on these issues, too.
Update 3:
To all the politics and responsibles like the Coal Commission or Coal Exit Commission, start finally to act, work transparent and present your solutions how to replace the dirty coal fast and efficient – so fast as possible, before more humans die by the air pollution! You all are responsible, too.
Current members of the German Coal Commission:
Commission leaders – Stanislaw Tillich (CDU, former state premier of lignite mining state Saxony), Matthias Platzeck (SPD, former state premier of lignite mining state Brandenburg) & Barbara Praetorius (Climate economist, former deputy director at Agora Energiewende*) & Ronald Pofalla (CDU, former Chief of the Chancellery, now board member at Deutsche Bahn)
Representatives of 8 federal ministries: economy & energy (BMWi, also hosts commission’s secretariat), environment (BMU), internal affairs (BMI, includes department for construction), labour (BMAS), transport (BMVI), finances (BMF), agriculture (BMEL) and education & research (BMBF)
Representatives of 6 federal states: North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Saxony, Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Lower Saxony and Saarland
Three members of parliament (without voting rights): Andreas Lämmel (CDU), Andreas Lenz (CSU) and Matthias Miersch (SPD)
Source: Clean Energy Wire
Update 4:
If you look at all the pictures of the mines and open heaps (stockpiles), why the responsibles don’t cover them? For years, the coal industry released tons of toxic and radioactive coal particulates, toxic substances and pollutants into the environment (air, soil and water cycle). Some of the hazardous substances are arsenic, lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, selenium, aluminum, antimony, barium, beryllium, boron, chlorine, cobalt, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, thallium, vanadium and zinc. We demand immediate coverage of the tailings with tarpaulins, also the coal transport (assembly lines, dump trucks, transporters, trains, etc.) must be covered – because even the storage and transport is dangerous and should be treated as nuclear waste as dangerous goods and it must be legally regulated! It is really no problem or great effort, tarpaulins or durable foils do not cost much – it could be done in a few days. This would at least temporarily hold back a lot of fine dust, which is whirled up especially by strong winds in spring and autumn. Politicians and business leaders need to respond as quickly as possible to this issue and act accordingly, especially to avoid further illnesses, deaths and negative long-term effects (cancer and other serious diseases). All opencast mining regions will continue to be extensively scanned and recorded by satellites. It would be good if DLR, ESA and Nasa finally made the complete scientific data (especially with regard to air pollution and pollutants) available to researchers and the public. We have been calling for open access of such important satellite data to the public for years. During the last years the Greening Deserts founder reported many times such issues like explained here and on all the articles or pages to responsible authorities and institutions.
The future greening camps and research camps will be set up outside of contaminated areas, like in the opencast mining region of Leipzig, maybe nearby the lakes in the post-mining area, close to the other open-pit mines. We will do also research on the detection and neutralization of radioactivity or radioactive particles. Together with nuclear experts and scientists from nations like America, Canada, China, India, France, Japan, Korea, Ukraine and Russia we can make it happen. With innovative methods and technics in this area, the entire nuclear waste could be neutralized in future. We strongly reject the current insecure use of nuclear energy and nuclear weapons, but there is nothing wrong with safe use of nuclear power in certain areas (research, medicine, space, etc.). It is similar to the ‘clean coal’ technology, if it should be ready in 15-20 years you can build new really clean power plants, but without open pit mining and the consequences of environmental degradation or destruction. Ever thought about underground drone mining? All truly sustainable and clean technologies in these relations need to be developed, and by then humanity should focus fully on renewable and clean technologies (cleantech) or sustainable energy and resources (renewables).
Greening Deserts don’t just worked out a Business Plan and Master Plan for a fast coal exit and sustainable agriculture, greening and forestation in open cast mining deserts like in Germany. The plans are for all other dry and barren landscapes, too. The concepts also work for concrete or desert cities and urban areas. Greening and research camps can be build in each country or nation who need fast and sustainable land regeneration and revegetation. With our methods and techniques we can produce fast top soil layers and clean filtered water. Subsoiling and repairing damages to the soil we can do with special plants (top soil producers and deep rooters). Desert bamboo and other pioneer plants can loosening any dry and barren soil in just a few years. After the first year, trees and soil producing plants like hemp can be planted between the pioneer plants – who dropping shadow and holding the water in the ground. Bamboo groves, woods and forests holding enourmous amounts of water. The greening camps nearby waters like lakes, rivers, seas and oceans will study and research on advanced and new irrigation, water filtering and desalination methods. Water research and improvement is a very important field of Greening Deserts research projects. With all our sustainable projects it’s really possible to reduce the global warming to a significant level.
The concepts and master plans of Greening Deserts don’t covering only the thematics conservation, ecology, education, environmental protection, cultural and economical issues, but also social and scientific topics like the migration caused by global warming and human-made climate change. Most of the refugees are climate change refugees, leaving their countries because of land degeneration and desertification. These real causes of migration must be solved at the roots in all these poor nations. Fight the true causes of poverty not the symptoms. Worked years on these themes and wrote many articles about. Together with the master plan many good and innovative solutions are ready to be realised. Regreen or recultivate Africa and MENA region, especially East and North Africa to stop the main causes of migration. And we ask again, why refugee camps have no or just less greenhouses and gardens. There are so many cheap and mobiles greenhouses, so like greenhouse, solar and water producing containers.
Greening Deserts analyzing, researching and documenting innovative and problematic developments for years – especially in the energy, agriculture and science sectors. But it’s not just about the problems, we also developed or researched sustainable and real good solutions – and world innovations @Greening Coasts, Greenhouse Ship, Green Ring Africa, Great Green Wall North Africa,.. Climate, nature and environmental protection plays a special role here. Everyone should have noticed the extreme climate or weather in Germany and Europe, especially the floods, droughts and heat waves. Those who continue to ignore all these facts, especially those responsible in industry and government, are responsible for the consequences of climate change and the consequences of global warming. They are also responsible for all the millions of climate refugees and deaths who suffer or die each year from extreme drought and air pollution. The main causes or culprits are cattle breeding, meat production, the car industry, the coal industry, the arms industry and the armaments industry, but also the responsible policy. Every year, billions (unfortunately also much taxpayers money) are wasted in these areas. For example, at least half (such as food) is not needed or consumed – a massive logistics and over-production problem. Precious foods (such as corn) that are gasified or burned for energy production are not a good solution, especially if rainforests are cut down for them – see Brazil, Germany and the energy maize.
The time to act is now, we are tired of waiting years over years that the responsibles in Europe finally support us and our innovative ideas or developments actively and financially – especially since many responsibles were informed. How said, the master plan is ready since last year! You can download on our pages.
Please support our innovative, social and sustainable projects for a better and greener world. It’s your planet and your future, too! Help nature and planet earth with all the different life forms or species to regenerate and to survive. Care the endangered species before they die out, caused mainly by deforestation. Reduce and stop this madness, because there are enough alternatives to wood and classic paper like grass, hemp and rice straw paper. Help us to plant millions or even billions of trees in future. Forests are the true cloud and rain makers, if the forests are back, water and wildlife will come back.
To all the politics and responsibles (Coal Commission, etc.), start finally to act and replace the dirty coal!
Don’t talk, plant trees and realise more sustainable energies.
Greening Deserts started a mammoth project or campaign for our lovely hometown Leipzig in Saxony, Germany. It’s called 1000 Mammoth Trees for Leipzig. Of course we will plant much more, but we want to show that it is possible to plant 1000 trees in a day or during a week very easily. It’s much love, time and work around. Because some tree species like the giant Sequoia and Taxodium tree need a special cold treatment – we and nature have done the last weeks and months. Now we are ready to go and to grow it. The biggest Taxodium tree stands in Mexico. In 2005, its trunk had a circumference of 42 m, equating to a diameter of 14 m.
Taxodium trees in the area of Leipzig have a long history and goes back millions of years. It was one of the most widespreaded trees in the marshlands of Leipzig region. This mammoth-like tree and wood was highly sought after and expensive, that’s why this tree was felled massively. In Germany this tree is very rare and endangered. Greening Deserts projects will establish this tree again and plant millions of them in whole Europe. We want to establish this ancient tree again in the floodplain forests and lakeland region around Leipzig, but also in marshlands in Lithuania. You can help to plant them out this year. Follow or like the page to get news and updates about this campaign. Everybody is welcome to support us on the mission for real and sustainable conservation and environmental protection.
For drylands or wastelands we have also mammoth trees like the Taxodium mucronatum of Mexico and Adansonia trees of Africa. After years of plant research and studying the plant databases of Africa we found countless (also forgotten) plants are good to recultivate in grasslands, savannahs or even in deserts. Special desert plants like some ultraresistent bamboo sorts will help with soil loosening and subsoiling. Together with awesome plant mixes we can produce topsoil everywhere fast and efficient. That’s why we want to start also a greening- and research camp in the open-pit desert in the surface mining or post-mining landscape around Leipzig in Saxony, Germany. Of course these greening camps can be started in African and European countries with deserts, drylands or wetlands like in France or Spain.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxodium
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxodium_distichum
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sequoiadendron_giganteum
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Árbol_del_Tule
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adansonia
Reduce global warming, negative human-made climate changes and plant more diverse parks, woods and forests – for better air quality and save CO2. Cool down urban areas with Urban Greening projects and establish more city forests. Support Greening Deserts to regreen and to recultivate native plants, especially endangered and forgotten species – wildlife and even extincted lifeforms maybe will come back if we all create more natural spaces and establish more wildlife sanctuaries.
Never underestimate the energies and forces of nature. Over time, nature takes everything back or balancing the environment worldwide. What we do to nature we do ourselves. Those who are committed to nature, the environment and a better climate, are committed to their own lives – even if it is not easy in this wasteful, consumer-crazy and destructive society. Just think of all the toxins and pollutants in the environment and the enormous destruction of nature, which was and is caused by the automotive, coal and heavy industry but also by the consumers. Everyone is a part responsible and should think more about – and then act especially! Less (plastic packaging, energy and food waste) is more.. money and a clean environment for all – by the way, clean air is a human right.
Thanks California and Canada for the mammoth tree inspiration, in memories to the wonderful redwoods.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redwood_(disambiguation)
https://treesforlife.org.uk/plant-trees/becoming-carbon-conscious
The dirty German automotive industry, the coal industry and all other polluters killed and still killing tens of thousands of people each year or they are responsible for so many deaths. It’s not just the massive air pollution, but also the soil and water pollution. This pollutes not just Germany, but also neighbouring countries in Europe and the worldwide environment. It weakens the animals, humans and vegetation – many became or become sick. Humans eat this dirt, polluted or toxic food, with the exception of greenhouse tomatoes and paprica from the Netherlands or Spain – also organic food can be affected by this pollution. Another main problem is the global warming by extreme heating caused by the cities, industries and wasteful consumption. It’s long overdue to cool down cities and urban areas with more greening actions and projects. Every child nows that plants produce fresh air or oxygen and filter CO2. That’s why Greening Deserts want to plant billions of trees worldwide, especially in Europe and Africa! #forestation #forestry #greening #reforestation #urbangreening
It’s never to late to change something and to reduce the real causes until they are stopped or transformed, so long the problems are solved. Everybody is partwise responsible and could live more sustainable, save more energy, food, water and resources.
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Never forget clean air, food and water are Human Rights, as well as a healthy environment. It are fundamental laws and basic rights are broken each day. To get your right you must demand or even fight for it. Another thing is that too many people destroying life, nature and wasting resources by extreme consumption. It’s horrible, Germany is leading in food waste, plastic and paper wasting in Europe. Many people are also responsible for that madness. Everyone must do something, don’t wait for others saving the world. To change the world into a better one, you all must do something for – big changes working just if humanity unites their forces to solve the biggest world problems.
More interesting acticles, backgrounds, facts and stats:
http://www.dw.com/en/germanys-new-government-same-old-story-for-environment/a-42499675
http://www.dw.com/en/germany-risks-reputation-with-climate-goals-failure/a-40413092
https://qz.com/1175308/germany-is-abandoning-its-climate-goals-for-2020-what-happens-next
https://www.opendemocracy.net/transformation/environment
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energiewende_in_Germany
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Inconvenient_Truth
https://www.euractiv.com/section/electricity/opinion/the-true-picture-of-the-german-energiewende
https://www.ecologic.eu/sites/files/event/2017/article_by_ronald_musoke_the_independent_uganda.pdf
https://energypedia.info/wiki/Energy_Transition_in_Germany_%E2%80%9CEnergiewende%E2%80%9D
https://wattsupwiththat.com/2017/05/02/numbers-dont-lie-germanys-energiewende-has-had-zero-impact-on-emissions-at-best
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/articles/2017-11-09/air-pollution-kills-the-most-people-in-these-countries
https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/report-theres-an-auto-industry-death-spiral-coming#gs.rx1YIrY
Remember the holocaust in Germany, so then think about the actual genocide caused by the gasification or environmental pollution. By worldwide air pollution dying over 9 millions each year, in Europe it are over 500.000 deaths! Maybe Germany should think about this actual holocaust and crimes against humanity or mankind – think about all the responsibles of this genocide.
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Excerpt of the Business Plan and Master Plan 2 in german language: Greening and Research Camps for Surface Mining Deserts: Concept and Study on Sustainable Greening Methods, Greenhouse Management, Forestry, Agriculture and Culture Industry for Surface Mining and Post-Mining Landscapes. – This is a pre-release published on 31 October 2017, Reformation Day in Germany.
Desert research, research and development of sustainable greening methods, greenhouse management, forestry, agriculture and cultural industries are the primary fields of the concept and greening deserts projects. The greening and research camp with a greenhouse, office or laboratory containers or tents for the research and development of greening and irrigation methods is the primary objective for open pit mines. Secondary objectives, such as sustainable recreational use and tourism offers, can be realized during the operation over the years and are not necessary for the successful start of the research project and base camp in the opencast mining area or a post-mining landscape. This also eliminates all associated conditions, provisions and legal regulations, since for the time being no public recreational use or tourism operation takes place. Nevertheless, forward-looking considerations and planning approaches as well as extensive points on the areas or topics were worked out and summarized in this concept. Greening Deserts projects are always planned as long-term and sustainable as possible.
Further tasks and goals of the projects are the education, research and realization of a sustainable greening, management and cultivation of all kinds of poor, barren and dry areas, landscapes (drylands) or regions. That’s why the main project u.a. Greening Deserts, which treats not only typical deserts but all types of deserts, including open-pit deserts, concrete or urban deserts. This can all be done with suitable greening and research camps, wards and centers. In this work and in the concept possibilities and ways of doing so are analyzed and discussed on the example of research and greening camps for opencast deserts, mining landscapes or post-mining landscape landscapes. The research camp should be an encounter, education and communication platform in post-mining landscapes, internally for experts, experts and scientists, and in future also publicly for all possible visitors.
For a start, the greening, nature and research projects focus on nature experiences, important experience and research in the particular area or terrain. Everything is analyzed, documented and informed about interesting findings and developments. In the course of the project, interested and competent bodies or persons will be communicated – via existing and new networks, and then on site as well. In addition to well-known environmental education instruments and programs, the active experience of nature and creative forms of exploration and experimentation should also be researched and developed. Particular attention is paid to the practice-oriented work, if possible outdoors. The motto is: away from unhealthy, artificial working and living spaces. Out of sterile offices or laboratories. Out of the house or city, work and live in healthy habitats, in a positive environments of true and true nature or natural environment.
Extensive research results, discoveries, developments and experiences in all mentioned areas of projects can be exchanged and compared with international institutions and scientific institutions. Most of the information and results are publicly or online available and will be published according to their level of development or needs. This will further enhance development and processes and can really help problem areas and poor countries (Third World / Emerging Countries). The research results, experiences and insights form a cornerstone for space gardening or space research in relation to professional greenhouse management, even for desert planets such as Mars. Also interesting would be a Mars Research Station for surface mining or post-mining landscapes. For this reason, with sufficient financial support or funding, further developments and research should be carried out, such as hydroponics, such as aquaponics or hydroponics, solar greenhouses and special biospheres.
During the first years additional places, paths and paths for recreational activities or recreational activities such as hiking and cycling can be planned and set up. For this purpose, with sufficient resources extra vantage points, experience rooms, rest areas, shelters, actuation and art objects can be realized. This is very good due to a strong presence and good contacts.. Further information (texts, pictures, lists, tables, etc.) in the concept or appendix. This concept, scientific study, market analysis and master plan was writen by Oliver Gediminas Caplikas.
Historical and cultural information on the past of the landscape and its use, also before the industrial mining period, are offered in the research camp as well as on corresponding pages on the Internet. Products such as books, pictures, photographs, films, works of art and antiques can be offered in a separate shop. Many socioeconomic factors and, above all, commercial aspects are in the area of health care, recreation, sports and tourism. There are many commercial and economic effects in terms of income sources, employment and multipliers.
Other aspects:
Financing can be provided through various sources of finance, such as crowding, capital, capital, investment capital, credit, venture capital (venture capital), private and public funding. The best is a good mix of uncomplicated and different financing, especially if there is enough evidence of efficiency and feasibility. Similar and successful concepts, feasibility studies and market analyzes in the relevant areas can make financing much easier. Profitable, long-term or future-oriented business ideas and concepts are often financed quickly. Unique features and strong references promote successful funding for new start-ups, start-ups, projects or existing companies.
There are many other social and economic (sociocultural) aspects or topics on greening and desert exploration in opencast mining deserts. These are extensively analyzed and processed with the Greening Deserts research projects. Read more on the official pages and in the masterplan: “Concept and Study on Sustainable Greening Methods, Greenhouse Management, Forestry, Agriculture and Culture Industry for Surface Mining and Post-Mining Landscapes“.
In this article, further approaches and ideas for naturalization, rehabilitation, cultivation and recultivation will be presented in relation to all responsible persons and within the scope of the greening and research projects for surface mining or post-mining landscapes.
An important goal for opencast mine and post-mining landscapes or lakelands is the production of a balanced, stable and clean water balance as well as a good soil quality. The following points must be observed:
Responsible organizations, institutions and persons must comply with the laws, regulations and guidelines, and must regularly prove this, if possible every year.
A good example of waterborne and aftercare is described in the “Sustainable recreational use and tourism in post-mining landscapes”. Here is an excerpt:
“Water maintenance is the task of preserving or restoring the functionality of the water bed including the shores to the top of the slope. This also includes the ecological and land-cultural function of water bodies, in particular
(1) the conservation and restoration of a native plant and animal population in natural diversity;
(2) the maintenance and improvement of the self-cleaning capacity, unless other are required to do so;
(3) the maintenance, cleansing and clearing of the waters and shores as far as is necessary;
(4) the keeping of the waters and its banks of pests;
5. the removal of solid substances from or from the waters of the waters, in so far as is necessary in the public interest. “
Documentations and information on the cultural, settlement, social and economic history of the region can be processed in various forms or varieties in the future, eg in tourist offers. This includes, for example, the expansion of the leisure activities and the program by means of landscape-related sports and games. These include, for example, Fitness facilities and activities, motor sports, mountain biking, aerial sports, water sports, winter sport and new sporting activities – all with the best possible connection to nature and nature conservation. In the future real recreational parks can be developed and built with a real relationship with nature.
The Greening Deserts greening projects and research camps also develop and conduct research in the climate and weather sector. Effective methods and measures for climate and disaster control are and will be researched and developed. Below are a few approaches and ideas listed.
A definition for flood protection according to DIN 4047:
“All the measures of watercourse development through water regulations and regulation, flood retention and / or structural alteration to the structures and facilities to be protected, which serve to reduce the flood area, lower the flood level and / or encourage flood discharge.”
A continuous discussion of the conflicts between the recreational and / or use forms and nature conservation is sought, also during the operation of projects and ventures in Post-Mining Landscapes. This serves the smooth running on all sides, the improvement of synergies and the avoidance of errors and duplicates or really unnecessary work. Ignorance should be avoided and communication promoted, especially in today’s times. This applies to all participants or agents in the region of the respective surface mining areas. The possibilities and potential of transparent working in mining landscapes are also important, as a result of which the overall image of the mining industry and the respective regions can be considerably improved. It also promotes awareness of nature conservation and positive change in the society.
It is also important to observe and comply with provisions, laws, regulations, guidelines and values for nature conservation in connection with or in relation to sustainable tourism, leisure and recreational use in mining landscape. Minimizing conflict potential and risks in this regard must be a task and in the interests of everyone, and extensive risk management for the region should be sought from all sources. Therefore, with this work and this concept is called to participate, to contribute ideas and suggestions. This can be done via the public pages or channels and by the official contact information.
Article published in October 2017.
On the pages of Greening Deserts and in the entire concept, cultural, social, economic and scientific aspects of professional greening and research projects for mining, surface mining and post-mining landscapes are described. Important and additional points are summarized here.
Further points and extensive information on the topics are extensively described in the master plan “Concept and Study on Sustainable Greening Methods, Greenhouse Management, Forestry, Agriculture and Culture Industry for Surface Mining and Post-Mining Landscapes“.
Download PDF: Cultural, Social and Economic Aspects for Greening of Surface Mining Landscapes