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.
Announcement of Trillion Trees: The Game; a future game and platform for game developers, gamers and game publishers in connection with biodiversity, reforestation, species protection, climate protection and environmental protection.
In summer 2020, the founder of Change Games and Greening Deserts started a new project development for “Trillion Trees: The Game”; a future game and an innovative platform for gamers, climate, nature and environmental games. Especially casual and full-time gamers, game developers and game publishers can use the game platform and Trillion Trees Game Community to exchange ideas and experiences. The aim is to promote topics such as biodiversity and sustainability as well as species, climate and environmental protection. The game is intended for mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, PCs and game consoles. An extra version which can be played directly online on websites should also be possible.
The Trillion Trees Game project development for innovative tree planting started with developing the main game design for the tree planting game. Players will be able to plant real trees in real life by playing different games on the online platform or by joining external games of partners. The goal is to connect many indie game developer and publishers by one big game and platform. The game can be played on nearly any device, by newest cloud and game streaming technologies. Thousands of gamers, game developers and studios were informed. Potential partners will be connected on social networks and if they show interest we can contact them by eMail with special partnership offers or programs. Feel free to contact the founder if you want to join the platform or event the development team in future. We will build a lot of teams for different regions in the world.
The main game design will of course implement various tree planting actions and options in a playful way. This means that the game can be used for advanced learning, ecological education and for planting many trees through in-game actions. For example, achievements, specific items, quests, points and game objectives can realize real tree planting actions in the real world. International partners and sponsors can help improve and support this system. It does not only depend on donors, financing models or monetization. The main thing is ecological and sustainable thinking, which can lead to real environmental action and sustainable living. Another important point is the will of politicians and certain economies to really transform the old systems into more sustainable systems. This means, for example, making production processes and supply chains cleaner, more ecological and more sustainable; including tree plantations and forestry.
Gamification and serious games for environmental, nature and sustainability issues can support these processes, such as social learning, engagement and real ecological change. The game can promote environmental awareness and a more sustainable lifestyle. Human intervention in the natural environment and man-made climate change are causing more and more hazards, disasters, risks and extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, soil erosion, storms, air and water pollution. Greening and reforestation on a global scale can reduce these effects of climate change and extreme weather events. The computer and video game industry could contribute significantly to improvement. It would make sense to use a collaborative serious game environment to enable better relations between society, the economy, the environment and the sciences. Gamification is interesting in almost every field. Games can make it easier to adapt, learn and understand things in a playful way. Climate and environmental games would be good for many industries, but especially for education and research in the areas of climate adaptation, reforestation, deforestation, desertification, ecological education, ecosystem restoration, resource conservation, sustainable development, waste reduction, energy efficiency and water scarcity. If more game developments include these concerns into game design and gameplay, games with a truly positive impact on humans and the environment can be created.
Biodiversity and environmental concerns can also be combined with ecological education and environmental science in games. The Trillion Trees game should not only be about environmentally friendly tree planting. It can be a game platform and community for many important questions and issues related to climate change, ecology, environmental protection, nature conservation, species protection and sustainability. The game, related platforms and partners can bring together players, game communities and game developers to focus more on the Global Goals or Sustainable Development (SDG) Goals, especially in relation to the important issues. AI and deep learning technologies can help to improve these developments and support the development of better community applications or games in this context. To this end, the use of good cloud services and cloud game solutions can improve sustainable game developments and gaming experiences in the future. Machine learning algorithms can be used to encourage people in algorithmically controlled areas or rooms to adopt better or more environmentally friendly habits. Gamification can improve human behavior, especially in terms of sustainability and environmental awareness.
Platforms like DeepMind and OpenAI use games to develop strategic AI, for example to solve complex problems in open world games or even in real environments. The platform AIcrowd, for example, strongly promotes AI development in various working environments and developments. Competitions are awarded with points, badges and rankings. Advanced training, game mechanics and gaming experience can take real sustainable games to the next level ! Games can promote awareness, concentration, challenge, happiness, joy, cheerfulness, ease, logic, sustainable thinking and environmental awareness; as well as many other positive qualities or incentives.
The Global Game Jams are another great opportunity to exchange views on climate change, the environment and the sustainability of game development. At these Game Jams many nice and small games were developed every year, now they could focus on the important questions and issues related to climate change, environment and sustainability issues. It would be great to exchange ideas about possible reforestation, greening, forest, nature and plant games, maybe they can be called green games or greening games. The Green Games movement started in 2018 and Change Games Entertainment will build a special green games community around important topics like educational, climate science and environmental games.
More information about the project and the topics can be found on the official pages of the Trillion Trees Initiative or on the game project pages of TrillionTreesGame.com in future.
The official Greenhouse Ship, Recycling Ship and Plastic Fishery projects were started by Greening Deserts founder from Leipzig in 2018. The projects supporting sustainable developments and developing solutions to collect and to recycle plastics in oceans, rivers, seas and other waters. First plastic collector boats, landing ships and plastic recycling platforms to update old ships were designed. During the years the ship industry was invited to join these awesome projects. Many institutions and organizations were informed.
The projects will be a community network and platform for plastic fishing developments, innovative recycling and upcycling solutions on sea. It is also an global initiative to connect worldwide fishers, global fishery and shipping organizations who are interested to earn some extra money and to clean up the waters. The projects will support real innovative developments, develop sustainable solutions to collect and to recycle plastics and further useful resources in oceans, rivers, seas and other waters. First plastic collector boats and plastic recycling ships or platforms to upgrade old ships were designed. The ship industry, recycling branch and other related organizations were informed and invited to join this awesome project. With enough support we finally can continue the project development, build up a little team and set up the platform portals. The Greenhouse Ships will have not just laboratories, solar and greenhouse containers, but also a big greenhouse for research and a smaller mobile one for underwater. These mobile marine biospheres will be good for more realistic and applied and advanced research.
In future, the Greenhouse Ship can support the Greening Deserts species protection program, the Greening Camps and Trillion Trees Initiative for biodiversity conservation, climate protection, ecological education, ecosystem restoration, environmental protection, greening, reforestation and species protection. All these projects could reduce climate change effects, deforestation, droughts, desertification, droughts, floods, land degradation, mass extinction, global warming and pollution worldwide on a large scale.
Solar, Greenhouse and Recycling Ships are maybe the most ecological and environmental friendly ships you can imagine, because they will be build with cleantech, recycling, renewables and upcycling – renewable energy, hydrogen by solar and wind energy will power them. Old ships and oil platforms can be transformed and upgraded to recycling facilities. Another advantages are the positive impact on the environment, nature and whole humanity by doing active conservation and promoting cleantech, green thinking, real sustainability, recycling and upcycling. Together with world shipbuilders and shipping companies we will change or transform the shipping industry into a more sustainable, clean and green shipping industry. The Greening and Greenhouse Ship is a good example how to use innovations like cleantech, greentech and other sustainable technologies. Of course we will research the best solar, water and wind power solutions in combination with hydrogen. Some other articles of Greening Deserts founder have explained these innovative developments, especially the combination of solar containers, solar sails, floating solar farms and vertical wind turbines for hydrogen production for the solar and hydrogen ships we could use in future.
Plastic Fishing Community and Plastic Fishery Initiative to solve the plastic problem in the oceans and worldwide waters on a large scale
Plastic fishing and a complete new plastic fishery market could solve the worldwide plastic waste problem in lakes, rivers, seas and oceans fast and efficient. There is a real need to clean up the waters as soon as possible because of the micro-plastic problem. Greening Deserts projects have pointed out several times, every day counts to reduce the extinction of species and the poisoning of aquatic species or marine life by plastic – even humans and sea food is affected by the plastic. The world do not need new extra ships and wasting again resources like metals and plastics for this. The solution is to repair, recycle and upcycle old or current ships. Small and large ships such as boats, container ships and cruise ships could take a lot of plastic along their way, especially as many of them drive along coast with lots of plastic waste. Most of the world’s vessels could be upgraded and refitted in just one year!
Professional plastic fishery and recycling ship yards are possible.
The Plastic Fishing project will be an extra community network project to inform and to connect worldwide fishers and global fishery to new forms of plastic fishing and innovative developments for a complete new fishery market, the Plastic Fishery. It will reform the fishing market, real sustainable fishery and even parts of the shipping sector.
The Greenhouse Ship and Recycling Ship projects have introduced many new forms of plastic fishing, e.g. by equipping new and old boats or vessels with plastic fishing nets on the sides and behind. The plastic fishery can become a complete new market and give the plastic waste a better value worldwide, in the end all would win. Humanity would profit, so like the nature with all their life forms, the poorest who collect plastic waste to survive, the sustainable fishery and sustainable shipping industry – who really will do something for the climate protection, nature conservation and environmental protection. Plastic fishers and other new jobs in this relation could be created with a worldwide plastic fishing market. It is not just a chance, it has really big potential and will create a lot of opportunities for existing companies, branches and industries.
Plastic Fishery will be the official platform, directory and network for Sustainable Fishery, Plastic Recycling and Sustainable Shipping. The project want to develop and share plastic fishing innovations. We all together can build and establish a complete new branch or market. Plastic Fishing will reform the fisheries and even parts of the shipping sector. Sustainable Fishing and Sustainble Shipping together is possible! There will be a lot of more topics, innovative solutions and news in future. Constructive feedback and real support is always welcome.
Help us to create the world’s first Greenhouse Ship with lab, greenhouse and solar containers, recycling facility and workshops. Investors, international partners and sponsors are always welcome to join the project developments.
Read more on the official project pages and the future platforms which will be developed during the years.
Hemp paper becoming more and more popular as the eco-friendly alternative to wood-paper, reducing deforestation and saving a lot of trees. Many studies revealed that if the old paper industries switch to hemp paper, it could help the world to reduce global warming and bad climate change effects. The worldwide hemp cultivation can improve the climate, environment, soils and waters significantely.
Approx 93% of paper comes from trees, but this will change in near future, starting with hemp toilet paper production. First industries have understand the advantages and potentials of the fast growing hemp paper market, not just because of profits and sustainability. The time to change is now, you can be a part of it. Help saving trees, support climate and environmental protection. Use recycled toiled paper until hemp toilet paper will replace it. The use of hemp paper will improve sustainable living and responsible consumption, because hemp is not just a strong symbol for sustainabilty, the using of hemp has a long history with a lot of good experiences. Sad that so many humans and nations have forgotten and missed so much opportunities during the last decades. The Chinese were mostly responsible for the advancement in toilet paper since in the 14th century, the use of hemp is known since 20,000 years! It is time to use finally all the experiences of hemp production and innovative hemp products to improve the economy, society and whole life on planet Earth.
Environmental impacts of paper production
Countless trees being used for toilet paper production, also in rainforest areas. This has a massive impact on these forests and negative consequences for the biodiversity, ecosystems, indigenous peoples and wildlife. The paper industry is partwise responsible for extinction of species and environmental pollution. For processing trees into toilet paper huge amounts of energy and water is needed. The number of people using toilet paper around the world has increased significantly. Toilet tissue accounts for 15 percent of deforestation, of one tree over a thousand rolls of toilet paper can be produced. The paper production requires a large amount of bleach, formaldehyde and organochlorines. Paper accounts for 25% of landfill waste and 33% of municipal waste. 40% or more of all trees are being cut down to make paper. Alone in the USA, approx 20% of all air toxics come from the production of paper pulp. A ton of conventional paper contaminates over 70,000 liters of water. Approx 50% of the waste of businesses is composed of paper. US offices use over 12 trillion sheets of paper a year. Every minute, Americans throw away approx 32,000 toilet paper tubes. Almost 270,000 trees are either flushed or dumped in landfills every day. Decomposing papers can produce methane gas, one main cause of global warming.
Trees contain only 30% cellulose, hemp has approx 80% cellulose content. Wood can contain 40-50% cellulose, 25-30% hemicellulose, 20-35% lignin, approx 5% resins and oils. It needs much energy and many toxic chemicals to seperate the cellulose from trees. Hemp has lower lignin content as wood. Hemp produces four times more cellulose fibers per hectare compared to trees and takes 4-5 months to grow, while trees take 8-100 years. Hemp plants for hemp paper production don’t need any pesticides to grow, these special plant varities need very little water and have the ability to balance out the nutrients in the soil. Hemp paper is more biodegradable and better to recycle as regular paper.
Industries, media and politics discussing about the paper wastes worldwide. Some presenting questionable arguments, for example that the electronic revolution and digitalisation will reduce the paper usage, but this is wrong. Demand for paper is expected to double before 2030. Others argue with the conflict with actual agriculture and used land areas, but this is not the main problem. Many unused areas can be used for hemp cultivation, so like wastelands. Degraded lands and depleted soils can be improved. Hemp plants are also good for catch crop cultivation (intercropping), they can improve following tree plantations.
Hemp toilet paper can reduce deforestation, climate change and global warming. Hemp paper in general can improve the climate, environment, soils and waters. Let’s save the world’s oxygen-releasing trees and forests who filtering the air, transforming toxins and cleaning parts of the water cycle.
More facts and further information about hemp paper and hemp toilet paper
Contains information and statistics from sources:
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/how-many-trees-does-it-take-to-make-1-roll-of-toilet-paper.html
https://www.theworldcounts.com/stories/Paper-Waste-Facts
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemp_paper
http://hemppaper.ch, hemppaper.shop, hanfpapier.shop
http://www.hanfpapier.ch, hanfpapier.eu, hanfpapier.org
Hemp is even good for Chemical Cleaning and Soil Aeration. “Cleaning up nuclear disasters such as Chernobyl or the Fukushima Power Plant leaks require unique tactics. Hemp presents one such unique solution in how it can recover the soil in affected areas. The process, known as phytoremediation, uses live plants to clean up existing radiation. Due to hemp’s quick growth cycle and toxin resistance, it is a natural solution to these human-created problems. Some suggest that hemp could also be useful in cleaning up oil spills by absorbing cadmium. Speaking of hemp’s soil benefits.. Hemp features deep roots. These combined with the natural process of growing helps to aerate the soil with carbon dioxide deposits. Due to this feature, a new crop can be planted immediately after hemp harvest. There is no need to leave the ground fallow. Since hemp also grows in a variety of soil types and climates, this could have huge implications for farming on a global scale.” Read more:
https://edgy.app/13-reasons-why-industrial-hemp-will-be-part-of-industry-4-0
Here are some more information about Greening Deserts projects like Greening Camps, Hemp Papers and the Trillion Trees Initiative. These projects can reduce negative climate changes, deforestation, droughts, desertification, land degradation and global warming significantely, especially in human-made deserts, drylands and wastelands. The camps are used for professional plant breeding, to reforest and to regreen large areas. The greening and research camps will be green spots to cultivate plants and trees are needed in each concerned region, for example ground cover, flower trees, wild grasses, wild flowers and medicinal plants. Together with hemp and other soil improving plants top soil layers will be created in just a few years – the basis for the following plantations and forests. It will support to establish a real sustainable agriculture and ecological forestry. Hemp will be a side product of the forestation or greening processes, it can be delivered to hemp product producers like the hemp paper branch and hemp wood industry. All would win at the end – the poor people or regions, the degraded lands or soils, the forestry, paper and wood industry – even big wood paper consumers like the book, newspaper and packaging industry. Hemp and rice straw paper books could reform the book and paper branch in many ways. If you want to know more about, don’t hesitate to contact. Greening Deserts want to found the official company fast as possible and continue the project developments for more Greening Camps in Europe and Africa. TrillionTrees.africa
Constructive feedback and support is always welcome.
Greening Deserts sustainable projects like the Greening Camps want to establish innovative developments like Agrophotovoltaik and Energy Storage Parks, Greening Drones and Seeding Balloons, Transparent Solar and Vertical Greenhouses. With the first Greening Camp and adequate fundings all the sustainable developments could finally be accelerated and developed worldwide. The projects were founded and initiated by the Greening Deserts founder. He informed institutions, organizations and even invited governments to join these projects and initiatives, as well as to the Greenhouse Ship, Plastic Fishing and Trillion Trees Initiative. If for example each nation plants approx 2 billion trees, we the humanity could reach the goal to plant one trillion trees very fast and we could really cool down the planet on a large scale. It would also protect and save countless species which are endangered by extinction. There are many campaigns and initiatives in this relation and we all are connected to reach the global goals faster.
The Greening Camp keyplants like bamboo, beans, hemp and sunflowers will improve the soils, underground water and waters. Drylands and wastelands can be turned into fertile lands easily. Hemp improves the soils in just a few years, after this other soil improving plants, environmental friendly crops and trees can be planted. Hemp will be just a side product of the forestation or greening processes, it can be delivered to hemp product producers like the hemp paper branch and hemp wood industry. The Greening Camps will produce millions of tons of hemp. All would win at the end, the poor people or regions, the degraded lands or soils, the forestry, paper and wood industry – even big wood paper consumers like the book, newspaper and packaging industry. Hemp papers and hemp carton packages will save a lot of trees and will reduce deforestation significantly. Forestation.net
Since the last two years the founder informed hundreds of publishers, media companies and paper producers about these facts. Greening Deserts Camp projects and products like Hemp Papers have really big potential to reduce deforestation, land degradation, pollution and wasting resources worldwide. Each camp will have a recycling center and workshop, especially for creative plastic waste recycling and upcycling. Biowaste Management, Greenhouse Management and Water Management will improve soils, air and water quality in all camp areas. Millions of new jobs and whole new markets will be created!
Other main goals in this relation are to bring back biodiversity, typical and rare plants of all concerned region. Seed banks or stores and special greenhouses, botanical gardens or similar habitats for the most endangered species will be established at each camp. Climate protection, conservation, environmental protection and species protection are also main tasks of the camps. Of course, we can not do everything. We will exchange and share a lot with other similar institutions, organizations and projects – like with national parks, game reserves or wildlife preserves.
The Greening Camps will establish green spots, healthy environments and platforms for all regions really need better soils, clean air and fresh water. The camps will be platforms for cleantech, climate protection, conservation, culture, education, environmental protection, greentech and science. All camps will have a library, lounge and media room. Bigger camps will get an Energy Storage Park and even could be expanded to a kind of campus or science park. We exchanged with a lot of institutions about it and many liked the projects. With active, constructive and financial support by the official institutions the camps can be build very fast. We have not much time to reduce desertification, global warming, human-made climate change effects and extreme weather before the biosphere will collapse – responsible bodies and institutions need to act immediately. Many camps could be build in 2020, the case the projects will finally be supported by the African Union, EU and UN. Even refugee camps could have a greening camp area. The founder combined and researched since years much more innovative developments, technics, techniques and products. You can check them on the official project pages.
The planet earth can be cooled with more diverse forests, green and natural landscapes worldwide – especially urban regions which heat up very much each year. Bamboo, hemp wood, rice straw and other sustainable innovative building materials and fuels could significantly reduce deforestation and man-made climate change. The future of truly sustainable cities, the energy transition and transport sector are: AI and Cleantech, Energy Efficiency and Green Building, Greentech and Sustainable Architecture, Sustainable Living and greening of cities, Sustainable Production and Sustainable Consumption, Sustainable Transport and Sustainable Working, Sustainable Agriculture, Ecological Forestry and Organic Farming in relation to Community Gardens, Hydroponics, Permaculture, Urban Agriculture, Vertical Farming can significantly support change or reversals. Not forget to mention Sustainable Aviation, Sustainable Shipping and Sustainable Tourism. All of these areas or topics will also play an important role at Urban Greening Camps. First camps in this relation are planned for European cities or urban areas and for open pit terrains or surface mining landscapes.
Short Summary:
Greening Deserts projects are cultural, educational, economic, social, scientific and sustainable projects in the field of horticulture, hydroculture, sustainable agriculture and ecological forestry – but also in the fields of clean technology (CleanTech), green technologies (GreenTech) and renewable energy such as solar, water and wind energy. Electricity access, availability and reliability together with energy efficiency will be optimized at the greening and research camps. The focus is on education, sustainable developments and scientific research. Conservation and environmental protection plays a very important role, too. Main goals of the projects are to reduce deforestation, desertification, pollution and global warming on a large scale. Goals are also to improve the energy and food security, to offer innovative management, ecosystem and greening services. The projects will reform the agriculture and forestry with ecofarming, ecoforestry and permaculture methods, technics and techniques. The projects can include each region and nation in the process, especially in relation to cleantech, greentech, environmental protection, a real sustainable infrastructure and sustainable investments – Green Finance and Sustainable Finance. To manage and to share better necessary finances a special Greening Fund will be established together with international financial institutions. Greening Camps for biodiversity conservation, ecosystem restoration, environmental greening, reforestation and species protection will improve environments, health and nature-near habitats.
It is a real chance for the world, especially for Africa and Europe to reach faster the Climate Goals and more Sustainable Development Goals together with Greening Deserts international and innovative developments. The future vision is to establish a Greening Campus on all continents and several camps for all regions who need ecological, environmental and sustainable development services. Each constructive feedback and real active support is always welcome!
You can read more about all the developments on the official project pages like Agrophotovoltaik, Energy Storage Park, Greening Coasts, Greening Camp, Greening Drone, Greenhouse Ship, Green Ring Africa, Great Green Wall North Africa, Hemp Books, Hemp Papers, Seeding Balloon, Transparent Solar,.. and on the newest projects like Plastic Fishery and Recycling Ship. Each project will get an own page or section in future.
Climate protection, nature conservation and environmental protection is also species protection. We need more environmental awareness and sustainability, sustainable living and sustainable working, in all fields or areas. We need to create a world of understanding, acceptance, respect, tolerance, compassion and consciousness.
Keynote and Update X:
The maybe most important issue, topic or point is the problem with the daily extinction of the real endangered species and wrong focus or awareness in relation to endangered species in general and most endangered species who really need to be saved – and to reduce or prevent the ongoing mass extinction really effective. It are mainly the most endangered species and keystone species which must be cared more than well known and relative protected species like elephants, hippos, lions, pandas, whales, etc.. Many of the countless programs and resources for mentioned species should be used for the most endangered species and threatened keystone species. It makes no sense to protect more and more the well know species and every day dying or even extinct so many other important species. AI, Deep Learning, Supercomputers and intelligent computing systems should be used primarely to find all the most endangered and keystone species who are recorded. Search algorithms and organizations like ACM, MA, Google, Research Gate and Wolfram Alpha should support this actively. International institutions and nations should unite in this relation. It is maybe the most important issue of the world! Afforestation.org
We have not much time to establish hundreds of camps, greenhouses and new special areas for this special species protection tasks – on land and at sea – for the most endangered species of this world. The reality is, if the most important species or keystone species like bees extinct or reach a certain low population level (MVP), humanity and much other species depending on them will die out, too. If these most important food or dependency chains and bridges collapse, even if it are relative small or partially unknown keystone species, it can cause cascade effects similar like in the case of the permafrost problem. No panic, but every day and action in this relation counts. The only way is to unite, to focus on this problem and find fastest solutions. My tip work out keystone species and priority lists for all the expert workgroups and worldwide institutions like universities and schools – not just in relation to climate protection, environmental or species protection. The media and public should also report mainly about this.
Don’t ignore it. Forward and share if you can, it affects us all.
Author: Oliver Gediminas Caplikas, Leipzig, November 2019
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 💚💚💚💚💚
A new sustainable project for Greening Deserts was founded, the world’s first Energy Storage Park, Solar Park and Wind Park. The project can combine renewables, innovative energy storage solutions, clean and green technologies in one area. The three parks will be a part of the first Greening Camp which is planned for the region of Leipzig in Saxony, Germany. During the years the founder and initiator Oliver Caplikas worked also on preparations for greening camps in North Africa and MENA region. Each bigger camp can have a energy storage park, solar park and wind park. The nations and regions who support the fastest and the most (constructive and financial) will be the first to get such facilities.
Greening Deserts projects are cultural, educational, economic, social, scientific and sustainable projects in the field of horticulture, hydroculture, sustainable forestry and agriculture – but also in the fields of clean technology (CleanTech), GreenTech and renewable energy such as solar, water and wind energy. Electricity access, availability and reliability together with energy efficiency will be optimized at the greening and research camps. The focus is on education and research. Conservation and environmental protection plays a very important role. Main goals of the projects are to reduce desertification, pollution and global warming in a large scale. Goals are also to improve the energy and food security, to offer innovative management, ecosystem and greening services. We want to reform the agriculture and forestry with ecofarming and ecoforestry. The projects can include each region and nation in the process, especially in relation to cleantech, environmental, infrastructure and sustainable investments – Green Finance and Sustainable Finance.
It’s a real chance for the world, especially for Africa and Europe to reach the Climate Goals and Sustainable Development Goals together with Greening Deserts international and innovative developments. The future vision is to establish a Greening Campus for each nation and several camps for all regions who need ecological and sustainable development services. In this relation these Sustainable Development Goals are very important for us:
SDG 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
SDG 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
SDG 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.
SDG 7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
SDG 12: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns.
SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
SDG 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
Of course the other SGD are also for us all important and will be included so far as possible. Visit the official websites and social pages for regular updates.
Each constructive feedback and support is always welcome!
Care and Share True Values, much Love, Peace, Harmony and Unity, especially on Human Rights Day on 10th December.
Invest in true values like education, health, humanity, nature and sustainability.
Greening Deserts are economical, educational, cultural, social, scientific and sustainable projects to reduce desertification and global warming, to improve healthy environments, agriculture and forestry. Also for urban areas, city forests and gardens – especially community and rooftop gardens. They are good to cool down urban areas and filter the air. @Urban Greening, Rooftop Greening, Community Gardening and City Farming (City Nursery)!
We can start primarly in the countries where we get the best, fastest and most support, also financially. The goal is to establish Research and Greening Camps for drylands and wastelands, especially in African and Arabic nations. We want to connect them during the years and bring the nations together, also by connected megaprojects like the third Great Green Wall Project, the Green Ring Africa Platform (coastal greening), the Greenhouse Ship and Greening Coasts project. At the Frankfurt Book Fair and during the years we exchanged and talked a lot with many awesome people around the world. Exchanged and invited many ambassadors, ministers, trade commissioners, scientists and experts to join our campaigns, initiatives and projects – especially the 100 Billion Trees project and the Trillion Trees Campaign! If each nation would plant a billion trees minimum during the next years we maybe can cool down the planet and really reach some of the climate goals.
Healthy and natural environments are the best for health! That’s why Greening Deserts projects want to create and restore healthy environments worldwide. By the way, trees and many plants produce not just fresh air and water, they provide food and are the best medicine or health therapy. Clean air, water and a healthy environment are Human Rights!
To support the greening and forestation process, we want to develop seeding and greening drones, for larger areas we can use solar planes. It’s one of the first projects we will start at the first Greening Camp next year. The drones are mainly for greening drylands and wastelands fast and efficient, they are also good to improve the diversity of existing areas and forests. To reduce paper and wood waste we not just recommend recycled papers and produce on demand technologies, we started two projects to save the forests, too. Hemp Papers and Hemp Houses was founded during the last year. We will produce a lot of hemp during the greening process and can deliver a lot of raw materials for innovative paper, carton packaging and building products (like hemp bricks, press plates and OSB-boards). Because hemp is one of our key plants for the greening projects, so we can offer this resource for hemp product producers, the book, paper, packaging and building industry. Investors and strong future partners are welcome to join us in the early stage with green finance and seed capital.
You can download the article: Greening Deserts Sustainable Investment in CleanTech GreenTech Education and GreenFinance
Drought and heat are also a problem for the farmers. European farms expect harvest losses of 30 to 50 percent compared to the previous year. In parts of Germany, the soil is as dry as it has been for 50 years. Extreme drought, thunderstorms and floods often occur together and can severely affect affected countries. These extreme weather conditions are increasing not just in Africa but also in Europe, particularly hit countries such as Greece, Spain and Italy, where massive forest fires and the resulting desertification increases extremely. This year, even European countries such as Germany and Poland are affected, where some regions even introduced emergency harvesting and water restrictions after the second drought. In some regions, rivers and lakes dry up, even the groundwater and drinking water is scarce. Greening Deserts has been reporting extensively on these topics for years, especially in terms of soil degradation and desertification. Large opencast mining areas (surface mining deserts), cities (concrete deserts) and urban regions also contribute to this extreme climate. Many of these consequences of man-made climate change are not exactly predictable, but can be estimated very well with today’s scientific findings in climate research. We discussed with many climate researchers, nature and environmentalists and exchanged about this problem.
Other topics such as the reform of agriculture, soil improvement and water improvement have been and will be discussed in detail. Unfortunately, we have not received any active and financial support from the responsible authorities since years. For a long time we could do research on more effective cultivation and irrigation methods with a first greening and research camp in the surface mining landscape of Leipzig (Lakeland Neuseenland) – if our inquiries and demands had been taken seriously, especially by the big parties who were informed several times. Our demands and requests for help to German foundations, especially in the field of education, nature and environmental protection were ignored or there were the usual excuses.
We hope for quick help or support, so that we can work together with all involved parties to make the coal exit and transformation of the energy industry and agriculture to clean energy and technologies (cleantech) fast and efficient. We want to cultivate bamboo, hemp and palm trees on a large scale in opencast mining areas – not just because of the benefits in these areas, but also because of new innovative developments and compensatory measures in relation to global warming. In addition, special desert plants, extremely resistant, robust and undemanding plants are explored, such as rock garden plants and desert bamboo. Thus, many useful plants for improving the quality of soil, air and water can be used not only on land, but also in urban areas and large cities. Of course we will run a diverse agriculture and gardening – this is also called ecofarming. Wild blooms and flowerbeds counteract massive bee and insect deaths or in general the massive extinction of species. As you can see Greening Deserts is not only concerned with deserts and desertification but with many other important tasks and topics. If this is not eligible .. an extensive consultation and accompaniment to appropriate funding would be really appropriate.
Read more:
https://climatenewsnetwork.net/3c-may-double-europes-drought-risk
https://www.zmescience.com/science/europe-drought-future-2427845
Visit our social and scientific pages and groups for more information. You’re welcome to discuss and to exchange with us about all these topics!
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.
We are proud to announce a new project and initiative for Greening Deserts projects like Greening Coasts and Greening Islands. The world’s first greenhouse ship, container ship and solar ship together in one big transport ship can deliver and transport greenhouses and equipment for professional gardening, greening, farming, forestation and other fields like solar applications or solar installations directly to areas where it’s needed. It’s a logistical and infrastructure innovation, because the ship can ship along the coastlines between the big habours of the world – you don’t must drive hundred or even thousands of kilometers from the habours to the destinations. With solar boats, drones, landing crafts and solar trucks the needed goods can delivered directly to the customers on the shortest ways, also deep into the continents. Boat landing stages are not necessary because landing crafts and small transport boats can ship directly to the coasts with fortified areas and roads nearby.
Sustainable shipping with greening ships and solar ships will change the world into a better, cleaner and greener place. Greenhouse Ships, container ships and Solar Ships could have mobile units or sections inside and outside. So you can move and exchange containers like in automated parking systems. This allows to load and unload the ship at any place of coastlines. Solar modules can be folded out and affixed with clever clip connections on the top or sides of the containers and on other free places or surfaces. A mobile floating solar field can be spread out on the water to charge the solar accumulators. Desalination of sea water is no longer a problem these days, so the greenhouse section (fixed or mobile greenhouse containers) will have fresh water and service water.
On the official Greenhouse Ship and Solar Ships page we will report about the project development in future and also about interesting developments related to greenhouse boats and ships. Greenhouse Ship™ was founded and initiated by Oliver Gediminas Caplikas from Leipzig. http://www.greenhouseship.com
About Greening Deserts:
Greening Deserts are economical, educational, cultural, social, scientific and sustainable projects to reduce desertification and global warming.
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 projects of Greening Deserts treating not only typical deserts but all types of deserts, including surface mining deserts, concrete- or urban-deserts. This can all be done with suitable greening and research camps, stations or centers.
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 and laboratory containers or tents for the research and development of greening and irrigation methods is the primary objective for opencast mine or post-mining landscapes. Secondary objectives, such as sustainable recreational use and tourism offers, can be realized while the operation during the years.
Greening Deserts has already applied for some idea, startup and business competitions, e.g. for the Hamburg Innovation Award, but to date no answer or any feedback.