World Environment Day - June 5, 2024 | Land Restoration, Desertification & Drought Resilience

"Our Land. Our Future. We are #GenerationRestoration".

Giving new birth to Earth for a resilient future
World Environment Day is celebrated on June 5 of every year. It is an opportunity to think of our impact on the planet and to recall the crucial importance of land restoration, combating desertification and strengthening drought resilience. It can also be a genuine opportunity to make the best of our gardening skills and show our commitment to protecting our natural resources.  

Imagine every park, every wasteland, every abandoned piece of land turned into a green oasis. You might say this could be every nature lover’s dream, but that is precisely the goal of land restoration. Restore degraded land and you will give our planet a second chance to live. Do you really think only forestry experts or ecological engineers are involved? Definitely not, everyone has to be part of the game! Plant a tree, participate in community reforestation projects or simply limit your ecological footprint and you will contribute to this great restoration endeavor.

Insufficient water resources, inappropriate human activity and climate change inevitably kill the soils. Instead of abundance, they become arid and fields that used to be full of life turn into desert expanses, and plant and animal life becomes harder. This situation is seriously preoccupying, especially for communities that heavily rely on the land for their survival.

Lucky for us, there are bright spots that can reverse the process of desertification. Indeed, simple and smart alternatives such as zaï may be useful. This African method of land reclamation, involves digging small holes in the ground to retain water and nutrients and is one of many other options to protect and restore land.The adaptation and improvement of the resilience to drought requires the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, the use of water conservation technologies and the plantation of drought-resilient crops. For this to happen, communities and governments must take conscience of the importance of water management and ecosystem protection.

Let us make every step count.