Droughts are predicted to be one of the biggest threats to sustainable development for both developed and developing nations around the globe, according to the United Nations Environment Programme.
Ibrahim Thiaw, United Nations Convention to combat desertification (UNCCD) Executive Secretary, said although drought is a natural hazard, it does not have to lead to human disaster.
Now the UNCCD says investing in drought resilience can provide up to a tenfold return on investment.
In a report released, the organization defined resilience as “the ability to cope with shock, adapt to stress, and ultimately transform through crisis.”
Globally, desertification affects approximately 70% of drylands, and 73% of Africa’s agricultural lands are degraded. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report, approximately, 91% of South Africa’s landscape is drylands, and this makes it susceptible to desertification.
Senegal has been suffering the most from desertification.
The Ndoloum Vert Project has been working for four years to reverse the situation, by planting 20 000 trees, as well as other management projects. Causes are due to deforestation, poor water management and over grazing.
One of the root causes of South Africa’s vulnerability, is its dependence on rainfall for its economic and social development. The country receives a mean annual precipitation of 497mm/year, almost 50% less than the global average of 860mm/year.
Other reasons making SA susceptible, are poor land uses, over exploitation of natural resources such as irresponsible management of vegetation and water.
Is there evidence of desertification? The Karoo in South Africa, has experienced semi-arid conditions for the last 500 years, while Somalia, has experienced three major drought crises in the last decade alone, and Ethiopia, has seen 75% of its land affected coupled with major famine between 1983 and 1985.
The UNCCD report estimates that an investment of about $1,8 trillion, focused on 5 key areas, could yield $7, 1 trillion in total net benefits.
A recent study on the economics of drought resilience in Ethopia, Kenya and Somalia, compared a range of scenarios and concluded that early humanitarian response, safety nets and investment in resilience, were more cost-effective than expenditure on a response to crisis.
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