Oases around the world face serious desertification threats, Chinese scientists warn

Oases are geographic areas that provide important habitat and water sources for arid regions.. For centuries, these green bags have supported communities, stimulated trade and sparked imagination.

They are important sources of water for countless life forms in the world’s drylands. supporting much of the productivity and life in deserts. Their existence depends mainly on the availability of a reliable source of drinking water.

Currently, there are oases in 37 countries, 77% of which are in Asia and 13% in Australia.

Despite the fact that oases occupy only a small part, about 1.5% of the land surface of our planet, play a disproportionate role. They provide the necessary resources and They support about 10% of the world’s population.offering salvation in arid and hostile environments.

Al Ahsa Oasis is the largest oasis in the world, famous for its date palms. It includes a number of historical monuments, freshwater springs and archaeological sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. pic.twitter.com/7aOhqqsf8X

-???? (@ryma080) May 2, 2024

However, the existence of many of these magical places is under threat due to consequences of climate change and anthropogenic activities.

Changes in land use and water availability

New research published in the journal Future of the Earth shows how these areas were expanded or contracted over the past 25 yearsas the pattern of water availability changed and desertification encroached on these wet refuges.

The research team sought understand the global distribution of oases and their dynamic changes, and understand how they respond to a changing environment. This work highlights the importance of oases for achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals and promote sustainable development in drylands.

The study was based on monitoring land occupancy data from the European Space Agency over the past 25 years. and analysis of its changes. Changes in vegetation were obvious.that indicate changes in land use and occupation, and the health of these systems, have affected both human activity and climate change.

Net growth supported by artificial processing projects in Asia

The study concluded that oases around the world they had a net increase in area of ​​86,500 square kilometers between 1995 and 2020.supported by an increase in area of ​​220,149 square kilometers, mainly through targeted projects expansion of oases on the Asian continent.

While this may seem like a positive development, there is an important caveat. Much of this expansion is not a natural occurrence.but the result of purposeful human intervention.

The increase occurred due to the deliberate transformation of desert lands into oases through drainage and pumping of water from underground aquifers, which support the creation of pastures and agricultural land. This was concentrated in China, where management efforts provided more than 60% growth.

Despite human efforts to expand oases, desertification poses a serious threat to oases. Around the world, researchers have found that Over the past 25 years, more than 134,000 square kilometers of surface have been lost.With. They estimate that changes to the oases directly affected about 34 million people worldwide.

Long-term (im)sustainability

The findings emphasize that the increase occurred due to the artificial expansion of these systems, which doesn’t seem sustainable in the near futureoffering the importance of the risk that climate change and anthropogenic stressors represent these damp sanctuaries.

Niger is one of the Sahel countries hardest hit by desertification and the effects of climate change. Luckily, they have a solid land restoration plan to combat desertification. This Niamey oasis of returning vegetation confirms progress on the ground. Proud to see this today pic.twitter.com/kMYJfCXCF0

— Tabi Joda (@TabiJoda1) April 24, 2022

It also highlights the fragile and vulnerable nature of these ecosystems and raises serious questions about whether this artificial expansion is simply A short term solution with potentially devastating long-term consequences.

These results also serve as a warning to effective management and conservation of water resourcesFor promote sustainable development of drylands and proper management of land use and occupationespecially during the period of climate liberalization.

Many artificial oases depend on the unsustainable use of water. This includes operating underground water sources which sell out quickly or drain water from ecosystems whose survival depends on these rivers or lakes.

This dependence on unsustainable water use leads to a long shadow over the future of these oases. As water resources dwindle and ecosystems change, artificial expansion will become increasingly difficult to maintain.

Link to news:

Cui, B., Gui, D., Liu, C. (2024). Distribution and growth factors of oases on a global scale. The future of the Earth. Volume 12, issue 4.