73.4% of our country is in danger of desertification

TEMA Foundation underlined that 73.4% of our country is in danger of desertification on the occasion of June 17, World Day for Combating Desertification and Drought. Emphasising the importance of combating desertification in order to ensure food safety, be resilient to climate change and be less affected by drought, TEMA Foundation Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Ms. Deniz Ataç said, “The annual cost of desertification is estimated to be 4-8% of the gross national product (GNP) of countries. It is estimated that this rate will reach 40% by 2050. Combating desertification is to reduce the problems of today and save the future.

The United Nations has determined the theme of this year's World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought as "Her Land. Her Rights: Advancing Gender Equality and Land Restoration Goals". On this important day, the TEMA Foundation emphasised the importance of land restoration works by reminding that women and children are the most affected by the migration crisis caused by desertification and drought.

“Land assets the size of the African continent were destroyed”

Stating that the main cause of desertification is land destruction and soil degradation caused by humans, Ms. Deniz Ataç, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the TEMA Foundation, said, “The extent of land destruction in the world is reaching an alarming level. In the 2019 UN Land Report, it is stated that 30 million km2, or approximately the size of the African continent, has been destroyed. Arid areas, which constitute 45% of the world and 1/3 of the world's population, have an important place in this destruction. Arid areas, which have adapted to difficult conditions but have a fragile ecosystem, contain 44% of the world's cultivated agricultural land and 50% of the livestock. Desertification is seen in 20% of these areas, which are of undisputed importance in terms of food security. Erosion is the main cause in 87% of the deserted lands, and climate change accelerates the process.”

“We have lost 7.5 İstanbul-sized agricultural lands in 32 years.”

Stating that “Due to desertification, productivity in agricultural lands decreases,” Ms. Deniz Ataç said, “Decrease in soil fertility naturally also causes economic losses. It is estimated that the annual cost of desertification is 4-8% of the gross national product (GNP) of countries. It is estimated that this rate will reach 40% by 2050. This situation shows how important it is to combat desertification, drought, erosion and soil degradation.”

Noting that 73.4% of our country is under the threat of desertification, 50.9% of which is medium and 22.5% is high-grade, Ms. Ataç said, “Erosion is one of the leading causes of desertification in our country. Erosion is seen in 39% of agricultural lands and 54% of pasture lands. On the other hand, growing cities cause a decrease in fertile agricultural land. Our agricultural lands decreased by approximately 4 million hectares between 1990-2022 from 27.9 million hectares to 23.9 million hectares. This means the loss of an agricultural area of approximately 7.5 İstanbul size.”

“Migration crisis caused by drought hit women and children hardest”

Emphasising that climate change has made the arid regions even drier, making the living conditions of the people in the region more difficult, Ms. Deniz Ataç said, “Due to the climate crisis, the average temperature of our world has increased by 1.1°C compared to the pre-industrial period. Due to the increase in temperature, various crises, especially drought, occur in many parts of our world, where the atmosphere balance is deteriorated, and people have to abandon their homes where they were born and grown.

According to the work of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, women and children are most affected by the migration crisis caused by drought and desertification. It is observed in studies that women are mostly left behind, and it is known that migrant women face serious dangers on their migration routes. Again, the same studies reveal that the issue of desertification and related migration should be addressed on the axis of gender.

The solution itself is again embedded in land

Pointing to the land in order to combat desertification and drought, Ms. Ataç said, “The effects of damage to nature and soil for the sake of short-term interests and gains result in economic losses, deprivations and migrations. The solution again is embedded in land. For this, it is necessary to prepare land use plans, repeal the provisions in the laws that facilitate the use of forests, pastures and fertile lands for other purposes, combat erosion, expand sustainable agricultural practices, and restore destroyed lands, in other words restoration works. Restoration works are of great importance in the fight against climate change. It is aimed to carry out restoration works on 30% of the destroyed lands by the United Nations by 2030. Combating desertification is of great importance in order to ensure food security, be resilient to climate change and be less affected by drought. Combating desertification is to reduce the problems of today and save the future.”

We are raising hope!                                                                           TEMA Foundation