The spirit of steadfastness faces the winds of desertification in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia’s deserts are among the largest in the world, and controlling sand movement has long been a challenge not only for farmers who want to increase agricultural productivity, but also for communities who want to ensure a more prosperous future or attract investments for growth.

Al-Ahsa Oasis in the Eastern Governorate of the Kingdom, which is one of the largest and most important oases in the country, is threatened by encroaching sand.

Villages buried under the sand

The sand dunes, which can reach heights of 15 metres, have submerged at least nine villages in the surrounding area. Some of the sand was removed for rehabilitation, while others remained buried under the sand.

Mona Dawalbit of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which is working with the Saudi government and local communities on experiments to combat desertification, said that this phenomenon is not new, adding that “Communities, especially farmers, need additional support because they do not have the resources to do it alone.”.

Climate change has increased the importance of this issue, as higher temperatures and lower soil moisture contribute to drying out of sand and increasing the possibility of desertification.

The state-owned oil company, Aramco, which extracts oil and gas in the eastern desert, has for many decades protected infrastructure including roads, mechanical sand removal and other measures, but the cost is high. For this reason, FAO promotes more sustainable methods.

Barriers made of palm leaves

The organization is trialling low barriers made of palm fronds, which are inexpensive and make use of materials that would otherwise be discarded as waste.

Dualbit said about this technology: “Various forms of protection for farms and facilities can be designed based on geographic and geomorphological conditions.”.

These designs include grid or linear patterns of varying heights, ranging from 10 centimeters to one meter, according to the specific purpose of the barrier.

The mesh technology, which resembles a checkerboard, is effective in reducing sand encroachment and also promotes natural vegetation growth including creating favorable conditions for planting trees or dispersing seeds.

The UN official confirmed that “The palm barriers will not completely prevent the wind from transporting sand towards the lands we want to protect, but they reduce its speed and radically change the path of sand flow.”.

There are additional environmental benefits to using palm fronds that are typically burned as waste, releasing harmful carbon dioxide that fuels climate change.

Preventive measures

FAO is piloting weather stations based on global standards to provide data on the complex science of sand movement.

By analyzing the patterns of “grain suspension” (particles suspended in the air by wind), “salting” (small particles jumping on the surface), and “surface creep” (particles rolling on the ground), the magnitude and direction of sand creep can be predicted simultaneously With other climatic factors such as wind speed and direction, humidity, and temperature.

Preventive measures can be taken targeting specific locations where sand tends to move toward valuable agricultural land and erode topsoil.

Turning challenges into opportunities

FAO collaborated with the Al-Ahsa Green Environment Association to implement sand barriers aimed at protecting Al-Ahsa National Park, a government-run entity.

The initiative sought to strengthen the relationship between government institutions and local communities, while building the capabilities of non-governmental organizations in creating sand barriers using palm leaves.

Dualbeat said this approach not only ensures local sustainability, but also enhances community participation in environmental conservation efforts.

added: “In Saudi Arabia, especially in Al-Ahsa, there are concerns about land degradation and loss of productive land, but together we can turn these challenges into opportunities.”.

The UN official said: “I have worked with Sahrawi communities for 20 years. They are people with a strong spirit and great resilience, and I believe that the winds of change in the fight against land loss will continue after this initiative from FAO.”.