Thursday November 5, 2009, 1:14 am
I've long wondered why this could not be done.

Why not?........Surely there are enough people/man power
with a world population of 6.8 billion people!!

If man really wants to preserve the earth then this is the
way to conquer & restore the Sahara as it once was!!!!!!

Why not??!!

Knock on wood-Plant trees for life.........

Thursday November 5, 2009, 2:29 am
BM I agree with the whole theory. BUT in Africa where people have Aids, malaria, cholera, starvation and drought - WHO is going to pay for this worthwhile endeavour and will it bring results SOON enough??? Last year would already have been too late for Africans!

Thursday November 5, 2009, 3:57 am
it can and will be done after all these areas where once forests.

Thursday November 5, 2009, 11:55 am
Karin.....I'm well aware of all the terrible problems facing Africa
and even other parts of the world' The once Gobi desert in China
is in the same predicament for it is a barren cold desert once a
full forested area. But, China has promised to retree it.

However, the Saraha is so much larger.......I was thinking along
the lines of an all voluntary group in the thousands who could/
would work in shifts to replant trees as rapidly as possible.
And, yes, monies would be a huge road block no matter how
many would volunteer. There is always a cost of something no
matter how voluntary it is.

I don't have a real concrete solution other than what I've already stated.

Knock on wood-Plant trees for life.......

Thursday November 5, 2009, 5:33 pm
Karin people are going to have to step up to the plate....But we all know this is wishful thinking.

Big Gorilly Hugs

Thursday November 5, 2009, 6:06 pm
There has been a lot of talk about bringing Mars to life and if they are will to that, then they should be looking at Earth instead. If they have the money Mars then they should have the money to for Earth.

Thursday November 5, 2009, 8:44 pm
For what it is worth, I think we would be much better off replacing the forests that have been removed for other purposes - replant forests where they naturally occure and where they belong. We have millions of acres of deforested lands to heal before pushing into the deserts! It seems a bit silly (and expensive) to try to "force" trees to grow where they don't naturally occure. Use desalinized sea water to grow the trees??? Just were would all that energy come from? If this was economically feasible that fresh water would be used for other purposes - such as watering crops or providing drinking water long before trying to grow trees in the desert. I also take exception to the authors views that desert life forms are "expendible" in our rush to address climate change... We need not sacrafice these creatures to meet our needs to address climate change. To me, the authors of the paper really don't know much about ecology or how natural systems work...or the value of deserts!

Thursday November 5, 2009, 10:58 pm
Chris, Thank you for your insightful comments. As Africa has an incredible shortage of water and thousands are starving, it does not seem possible that this project could work in Africa. We NEED water and, for the thousands who spend large portions of their day finding firewood to cook what little food they have, these trees would seem a God send - and NOT for the reason that they were planted. It is very hard for a poverty stricken African, whose daily fight for survival uses all their time and energy, to CARE much about larger issues such as this. It is a sad fact on this continent that poverty leads to over population causing an endless spiral of disease, and more poverty! Much of the continent is desert which is expanding by the year. Add to this the terrible corruption, political turmoil and genocide taking place here, and you do not have a populace that is likely to be very helpful in this endeavour. ALSO, and this is very dear to my heart, I lived in Namibia for many years and the desert and it's flora and fauna are incredible and found nowhere else in the world - so they DO deserve to be conserved and cherished.

Friday November 6, 2009, 5:11 am
And as Karin said, people would probably hardly be able to restrain themselves from cutting the trees down for firewood. In fact why bother to plant them, just use them right away!
I wonder though, why does 'poverty lead to over-population'? Is it simply a body urge to procreate when faced with death? Or because people die so easily and quickly from disease etc. that survival in numbers increases survival odds?

Friday November 6, 2009, 5:40 am
Kenneth The Africans believe that the more children they have, the better they will be cared for in their old age. As AIDS, other diseases, starvation and genocide are decimating populations, and as most people do not have access to (or finance) for contraception, the result is more and more children. That is, of course, a simplistic explanation as I am no expert on the WHY of this, only a despondent observer of the results!