(MENAFN- Arab Times) Meteorological and environmental expert Issa Ramadan said Monday that the "green belt" project in Kuwait aims to mitigate effects of desertification and effects of recurrent sandstorms. The "green belt" idea was adopted by some municipal council members as a national project to overcome desertification, in cooperation with the National Committee for desertification, headed by Environment Public Authority (EPA), including relevant institutions, Ramadan, member of the National Committee of desertification, told KUNA.
The project comes at a time when the world is witnessing rapid changes, crises, natural and non-natural disasters, with countries trying hard to face and avert these crises by setting up early warning systems to minimize losses and damage, he added. It also follows expansion of drought and desertification as well increase of natural disasters, thunder and sand storms due to recent climatic changes, he said. These climate changes are one of the biggest challenges of the future, which would aggravate economic and social crises in the country, Ramadan explained. Some academics and specialists in climate, environment, agriculture and engineering contribute to this vital national project, which will reduce the burden of future commitments to reduce emissions of gases causing global warming, according to new UN conventions which oblige developing countries to abide by certain limits after 2020.
Through experiments it is expected for this project to reduce storms and dust, blowing from outside Kuwait, by 20- 30 percent, and reduce by 60-70 percent the local sand storms throughout the year, especially during summer, he said. It will also help to lower temperature by 4-6 degrees Celsius in surrounding regions, in addition to reducing the heat by 3 degrees C. in the suburbs of Kuwait City as it will lower large amounts of carbon dioxide and produce a lot of oxygen.
The mega venture primarily aims to improve air quality and reduce desertification, drought, sand storms and movement of sand dunes. The "green belt" project which contains plots of lands planted with trees and shrubs of about 50 to 180 km in length and a width of 5-20 kms, will be planted in stages during a period of time that may extend for five years or more, he added. He pointed out that many local trees that withstand the harsh weather and sand storms of drought conditions will be selected, as well as growing native plants that do not need much care or water.
Ramadan said the first part of this project will be in the northwest, an area that frequently witnesses gales and dust storms. The other phases will be executed in south-eastern and south-western areas. He added that the northwestern region is rich in sand dunes that cause most of the daily sandstorms, which cost the state each year hundreds of thousands of dinars to remove. Furthermore, winds that blow from north-west are loaded with large quantities of dust from areas beyond the borders of Kuwait.
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