AU2011374967A1 - The struggle against desertification - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention contains many methods that will change the earth into another earth and will be protect the areas threatened by the desertification and bareness. 1. Anti-desertification is an important issue and desertification is a catastrophe in many countries especially in the Arab countries. Lands should be fertilized. 2. Human stabilization is an obligation. 3. Desert areas could and should be transformed into water reservoirs 4. The invention allows for thousands of jobs and will counter exodus. 5. Crops will be guaranteed, including in draught years. Biological products can be obtained and exported. 6. Energy generation will find new resources in the invention. 7. The invention development will allow for the cancel or at least lightening of the costly desalination stations. In this case it's possible now, to struggle against desertification and the shortage of waters.

Description

WO 2013/025179 PCT/TN2011/000005 DESCRIPTION THE STRUGGLE AGAINST DESERTIFICATION This invention studies the ways to struggle against desertification and sand move. The methods followed by the use of petrol products' waste - as Shell, for example did by using some type of blocking paste to be put on the sand, so to impeach its movement or still the other methods, such as palm tree barriers, then supposed to block in wall-alignment the movement of the sand, and then have implantations and residents could not prove that efficient, mainly because it cannot be generalized to all the desert areas . Desertification is also the result of the development of human activities and the pasture, the scarcity of rain and the successive and continuous plough in years of fertility; which is very likely to eliminate biological diversity and products. Hence the need to also give weight to consciousness so that people be aware of the danger and change their behavior in bothering nature; along with necessity of providing new means such as the re-direction of waters, the creation of plantations as an alternative energy to all humans and animals. These results can only be achieved by common efforts; mainly of the experts in how to find creative means and new methods; principally by the provision of enough water and new plants, vegetables and diverse types of grass so to allow for the continuity of life in desert areas and to struggle against desertification and dunes so to provide urgent solutions. 1 WO 2013/025179 PCT/TN2011/000005 This can also be obtained by the bringing; through an artificial river, of inundation waters, mainly around cities like Tataouine, the setting of blanks and barriers in the desert areas such as" Ireg", Bir Soultan in the south of Tunisia to have these areas irrigated, to allow for life there without uprooting plants and grass as caused by continuous and intense pasturing; which to constitute a decisive factor in desertification. The plantation of olive trees provides a good solution in Sabaseb; mainly in the areas ploughed after the l4f of January 2011 events. That should be forbidden or at least planned so to keep plantations in the desert areas but also to plant trees in the areas like Tabarka, Sidi Ahmed Mechreg in Sejnane and in some other areas of the Cap-Bon and to ban tree destructions. Knowing the countryside and the specificities of their environment and, more generally, natural phenomena, I find it more practical to block the sand-moves as follows. To set huge pipelines as those used in the Lybian or the Chinese rivers, to drive the North waters through Mornag so to contain the fluvial waters, mainly in the northern cities. These should be the nearest possible to their arrival point, for it v allows for the optimal collection, through the mastery of valleys, of fluvial waters; especially in autumn and winter seasons. These waters were driven to the desert areas in the south of those cities, following the sand dunes instead of blocking or covering. The sand should not cover what was already repaired and water is distributed either by rivers or pipelines. The pipelines Filters would impeach stones and plants from blocking the pipelines. The waters of ' Ennouguel' or ' Miloussi 'which usually verse in desert land may not give immediate results, but there need continuation, and the very ands are then in 2 WO 2013/025179 PCT/TN2011/000005 the need to be irrigated by the valley waters many times, so that 'Miloussi' get in the deeps of the land and block its movement. That obviously requires an intensive use of barriers so to fertilize the land in the arid areas and barren areas. It also supplies the oases in the desert areas with valley waters, from rainfall and drained lakes like "Gafsa oases " in Tunisia, the" Dead sea" in Jorden, " California" in the U.S, "Somalia " in Africa, and so on and so forth, because of water dearth and drought. Instead of being swept away and scattered by winds, it is preferable that hay, after the harvest, should be ploughed by the farmer so that it would be mixed with earth and both get clung together, and thus prevent erosion. Such a choice would allow the rich countries to invest and thus make everybody gain in richness. The transformation of the desert areas into productive areas would not only allow for agrarian reforms, but it will obviously contribute in creating green richness for humans and animals, will provide employment and stabilize populations, avoid famine, analphabetism and draught diseases. The Bedouins, inhabitants of the desert areas are also in a way the protectors of borders and of language varieties. Providing them with water is but providing them with life and work. That would avoid the abandoning of the said areas and people to their fate. Immediately, water can be provided to them by ambulant tanks or by the digging of wells, by the implementation of sun-boards to store sun energy; which would be best used for lighting and motors. Those boards can even provide energy for the cities until the bigger invention of pipelines are achieved. Neighboring countries can profit of conducts and technical cooperation is accordingly to make profit of the plans and the achievements. 3

Claims (10)

1- Rain waters transport what Bedouins and countryside people call 'Ennouguel' (The Silt), which is made of different types of earth. This is transformed to what is known as sludge ( Miloussi ), clay or mud which is sticky matter when it gets mixed with sands it gets them clutched and prevents them from moving away. This process is repeated again and again till the sludge permeates within the sands and confines them and fertilizes their soil.

2-What we call 'Ennouguel ' ( the silt) and its flood waters bring along with them the seeds of all sorts of herbs and trees. When they are buried in sands, they grow various types of trees and grass which hold together and cuddle to prevent sand movement. They grew into something like woodland which would block desertification and provide grazing land, according the way it is exploited by experts, and constitute a source of decent living instead of barrenness. Then, land would capture its people as it provides them with work and source of living, and employs hundreds of thousands of work force, for example it's preferable to spread the sand dunes and irrigate them with river water (figure nol).

3. This would transform the innermost desert into water reservoir which guarantees for us irrigation, fresh water, and enrichment of water table which provides drinkable water. This latter would flow in opposite direction and thus enable us of achieving self-sufficiency in terms of water and save us the foundation of desalination station by the seas : the valley is useful for being a dam to preserve water naturally from which launching the rival of the area and the irrigation of the ground water table (figure n*2).

4- In rainless seasons, it is possible to shut in the flow of water in valleys toward the sea and exploit it in the same way, in order to store it for irrigation in summer, 4 WO 2013/025179 PCT/TN2011/000005 through the construction of reservoirs for it. Water is so precious that we should not waste. In brief, this invention aims at fertilizing the desert, for example: such mountains may be used us dams for the preservation of water, and creating straight basins at the top of mountain for planting larch trees and cypress trees 'Sarouel' and Eucalyptus, able to grow over here and getting them close to one other in straight rows to be irrigated drop by drop (figure n*3). Besides setting its inhabitants in the desert areas, creating jobs, and providing pasture for animals (figure n*4), and dissipating the fear of water shortage. This invention is not difficult to realize provided that efforts united, material and moral support exists.

5- When sandy land is fertile, it prevents the movement of dunes and it is not eroded by winds. At the same time it conserves humidity at the depth of around 20cm, in addition to that, there is an increase of the flow of valley waters carrying sediments, called, the 'Ennouguel'(deposit) or 'Miloussi' (sludge) and what they bring along of plant and tree seeds which we aforementioned. Furthermore there is one way of planting and growing 'Garden lawn' or couch grass as it grows by salty water. When lawn is harvested, its wildfire and chaff stay on site to fertilize the land and protect the roots of the couch grass against the sun heat. It constitutes a layer which prevents the movement of sands and serves as pasture, and whose length may reach around to 2m (figure n 0 5). There also another kind of cane cob girder, which resembles 'wind Bamboo' of a specific kind which is planted in the form of a lm or more thick fence. It is irrigated by a small rubber hosepipe not wasting much water and serving as a fence. It serves as a barrier against sands and considered as one of the best cob girders ever available and may be around 6 meters-high, well-knit and cannot be permeated by sands. This fence can be used for pasture and need not be reconstructed or renovated. In addition, it can be used in the construction of green houses through the fabric of which can infiltrate breeze and sun beams. It is held together by wires in a steady way from sides, so that it would not be destroyed by winds. It is backed up by wooden posts or 5 WO 2013/025179 PCT/TN2011/000005 other, and around which grow weeds and adds to it. It is possible to back it by a network or threads of metal 'fer' (fig n'6). It can also be supported and consolidated nets; other trees, like 'Acacia tree which used to pasturing to animals (fig n*7) and the palm trees which will irrigated drop by drop and we must forbid the extract of drinker ' Elagmi ' when the palm tree dies automatically. And the' Edharou' tree which gives fruit called 'Gadhoum' (fig n *8). The trunks of these trees are cut at the height of 1 to 2m in barren areas so that they can spread their branches on the surface of earth. As for the olive trees, they are planted at an interval of 4 m or less, one away from other, differently from the method adopted in southern prefectures; otherwise their lands would be vulnerable to blowing winds when ploughed, and their irrigation would be difficult. Within them it is possible to plant vegetables and fruit such as pomegranates. However, olive trees are planted at the top of mountains with basins dug around their trunks instead of ploughing them. Indeed, I observed in Spain the planting of olive trees at the top and foothills of the mountains (fig n *9). Can also be cited here the Blackberry Bush 'Eulig' where densely grows and intermingles to confine sand (fig n 010).

6- Channeling the rain waters of the north areas to the south is easy, because of the higher altitude of north hills and mountains above the sea level- compared to the desert southern areas- such as Chaanbi Mountain, which is the highest mountain in Tunisia. This can be done on the basis of satellite blue prints and maps for geographic data, and science earth. They can be channeled through lowland reliefs among mountains, and when necessary, by digging underground tunnels for the passage of water, such with aqueduct dug by the Chinese under Hamman- lif Mountain Tunisia (fig n 011). This can be achieved by making use of industrial gadgets such as ground satellites, regionally in a comprehensive plan because of the geographic proximity, and internationally. It can also be realized by making use of the technological revolution and remote detection to observe the desertification phenomenon, and weather 6 WO 2013/025179 PCT/TN2011/000005 forecast. This can be managed by technical experts in order to dodge drought and promote land fertility. This can be done thanks to geology, where science is the gate for desired change. This invention, in its beginning, is meant to employ around 100 thousand persons, and at its perigee 200 thousands or more of workforce, which may be not available. It also intends to employ administrators, technicians, service providers, means of transport, and works with sweeping draggers and bulldozers to spread sand dunes in the form of squares of around one-hectare size or more. This would allow valley rain waters to flow and irrigate them one after another, in order to be immediately planted as it is with rice plantation in swamps. As for elevated areas, they can be surrounded by basins in order to avoid erosion, by planting it with the aforementioned trees, plants, grass, and another.

7- It is worth noting that when necessary, before distributing flowing valley waters, it is possible to dig out straight rectangular trenches of 80- centimeter depth or more within the sand areas, and mix them with fertilized earth of 20 cm-thick stratum or more, as principle fertilizer for growing plants. Besides the land whose soil is eroded by wind and rains and thus become a single rocky plaque, on the solution is planting trees in row sand the ease of irrigating it drop- by drop and creating horizontal basin for the preservation of rains water (fig n 012). This earth can be brought by heavy trucks, and if necessary by laying railways for bringing this earth by trains. These trains may be used as modem means of transport for the would- be local dwellers, as well as for future tourism. They will interconnect the desert areas and towns in the east, west, north, and south and other areas which had been difficult for us to reach before. In the ditches, we should plant fencing trees in the form of horticulture of the wind -like 'Bomboo'plant, supported by the 'Tamarisk tree' 'Attarfa' that can be irrigated by such pipeline type aforementioned, through dripping irrigation. We also can grow various plantations which have been proved to survive in arid areas like ' Cactus' called 'prickly pears' which is useful food for humans and animals, and from which we can extract "Errob" juice and export it (fig n 013). 7 WO 2013/025179 PCT/TN2011/000005 we can also plant the 'kabbar' growing in rocky arid areas, useful for food and exporting (fig n 014) and 'Fig' trees that can be irrigated by the pipeline aforementioned, which grew without water in a wall out (fig n*15). In order to achieve the desired objective it is necessary to wage a fierce unabated war against desertification, devoting all resource of humans, funds, all material capacities, international aids, and international organizations in order to defeat this gigantic mighty monster, i.e. desertification We also have not to abandon the barren areas like Gabes, Mednine, Tatouine, and other, for the winds to conquer and annihilate life there. We rather have to initiate a progressive forestation program, using olive trees in, the form and size aforementioned, and dripping irrigation, by using the valley and dam waters which are wastefully and carelessly flowing into sea. It is also necessary that plantations be so close to one another that their roots feed from each other, and dodge the steaming-hot sun shine and eroding winds. We also have to grow origin desert plantations which have been proved by experiment to have the capacity of standing dryness and climate head. They also constitute a source of meat and job creation for the local dwellers of these areas.

8 WO 2013/025179 PCT/TN2011/000005 AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 03 October 2012 (03.10.2012) 1- Channel flood waters towards the desert areas downstream: Inoculate desert terrain with large quantities of alluvium, which, by their varied lithology ( clay, silt, and sand) and fine- grained structure, will be fertile, stable (because once mixed with sand, alluvium solidifies, thus preventing the wind from scattering them see figures ( 1-1,1-2 showing that the addition of alluvium slowed the advance of sand of 40 cm in an hour), renewed every flood and water- retaining (thereby limiting the irrigation ). We must therefore admit that in 8 days of flooding, the river could carry 90 to 100 x 106 tons of solid matter for a total water volume of 940 x 106 in, which represents an overall concentration average of 90 to 100 g/1, including the thrust from the bottom which can represent 20 to 25 percent of total. Volume of alluvial deposits= 45x 106 n Weight alluvial deposits = 75x 106 tons This represents for the 500 km 2 flooded a deposit of about 1000 m 3 /ha or 1700 tons /ha, that is also an average leveled layer i. e of about 10 cm. In this case we can guarantee stopping the sand and soil becomes fertile. These results allow us to affirm the availability in water, clay and silt of quantities large enough valorized to make possible the amendment of the south desert lands via hydraulic structures (pipelines, railway transport etc...). Dig new channels that will connect existing water bodies (lakes, ponds, rivers). We will have first to identify flood plains during floods, to estimate the volume of excess water that will be able to be channeled. Then, we will have to study the geometric and hydraulic characteristics of these streams in order to consider their prospective development (by dredging, excavation, corrections, or enlargement) that will serve to promote the removal of surplus. Finally, we will have to choose the type of channel to dig (flood way channel, junction bypass channel, junction summit level channel). 2- Restore saline and sterile environments: Get new fertile land and allow new plant species to appear spontaneously (for example, suaeda vermiculata ditches along the side), and other species to

9 WO 2013/025179 PCT/TN2011/000005 grow again (such as cyperaceae which appear in irrigated areas, acacia and red beds spaced). It will be necessary first to distinguish salty soils to alkaline saline soils because the process of the development will be different. Regarding salty soils, we can dig with shovels, parallel and deep enough drains, along a slope, to an outlet. This is to reduce, over time, salinity on both sides of the groove, by leaching of soluble salts. And it is better to be used the marsh by the interment of garbage that is close to residential communities, until we find a place where to get rid of Besides, it is rich with the essential elements of fertilizers which are lost from the bogs, and thus plants will be thriving. And we had already an example of this model, and in this way we would reach the crux of matter. With regard to the alkaline saline soils, amendments will be required, we can also cultivate the gypsum soils covering huge areas, because we argue that it is possible to grow crops on soils with superficial crusting and shrubs on soil whose crusting is deep ( after development of the latter). 3- Fertilization of the desert and blocking the sand movement: Ibis process of soil stabilization must be by growing plants and trees, the top of which are those which are able to live in the desert areas. This process takes place after bringing water and alluvium ennouguel a to desert areas, where the sand dune and what grows in them of seeds brought flood waters are expended (fig 2-1, 2-2, 2-3, 2-4). And we work on how to grow plants by digging straight trenches of 1 to 2 meter depth in order to get as close as possible to the soil in order to be reached by the tree roots in most of the places, especially arid ones where we ensure the success of tree planting. In order to ensure their growth, we can bring the fertile dust by heavy means of transport and deploy it inside the trenches in order to serve as a womb that embraces the plant until its growth. Also, it should be irrigated in the underground so as for water not to evaporate quickly. And similar and parallel lines of an interval of 10 meter must be created, in the middle of which trees must be grown at an interval of two meters, without trimming them in the bottom where soil erosion often takes place at an altitude of 40 cm, in order to be a barrier in the face of erosion.

10 WO 2013/025179 PCT/TN2011/000005 When harvesting grass leaves, their hay shall be left scattered on the ground without being collected so that it would serve as a cover to protect its roots from the sun heat and prevent the sand movement, and eventually it turns into organic fertilizer, where all what is above the crust is the dust of this grass, and tree leaves are effective in keeping the sand together and blocking its erosion. Indeed, I conducted an experiment which consisted in removing a quantity of beach sand and substituted it with sand after filtering it from sea grass, and so it was eroded by water waves because it was void of plankton weeds, such as those ousted by the sea with the sand to keep it together (figs 3 1,3-2,3-3,3-4: showing how to uproot an amount of beach sand, removal of the remains of sea plant from the sand, placing sieved sand in the place of fig 2 and the removal of sand by water as it is free of plants). That is the similarity between it and the sand of the desert which was swept as it was void of plant remnants which were burnt by heat and because of the decrease in the carbonate calcium ratio to a minimum, making it vulnerable to erosion. Whereas, the height of this substance is important for its incorporation with the soil and the increase of its fertility, as it is a set of plants and living organisms that decompose and dissolve after a period, and work on the solidity of the soil, its improvement, and its richness with mineral elements to be as organic fertilizer. This is what makes the desert sand creep toward us without prior warning, and thus damaging nearly 23 hectares per minute in the desert regions of the world. We shall indeed remove the harmful plants to the grass, where they emit their toxins on the sands which are carried by rain water, killing all what reach, 11