June 17, World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
Intervida reminds us that desertification claims 120,000 square kilometers of trees a year, affecting more than 250 million people
Madrid (17/06/2008). In light of the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, INTERVIDA reminds us that one third of the earth’s surface is at risk by desertification, and more than 250 million people are directly affected by this phenomenon, according to the Unite Nations (UN). One of the causes of this process is the cutting down of trees. In fact, it is estimated that 120,000 km2 a year have been deforested over the past two decades, while only one tenth of this loss has been recovered by natural growth and reforesting efforts. To address this problem, INTERVIDA Mali, in collaboration with the Nubian Vault Association (L’Association la Voûte Nubienne), uses a new architectural technique which replaces wood as the material used in the construction of building roofs and structures.
Desertification is a process of deterioration of land in arid, semi-arid and sub-humid dry areas which affects a fifth of the world’s population. Due to this process, more than 24,000 tons of fertile land disappear each year, which implies a significant loss of natural resources for a large number of communities which depend on these resources for their survival. More than 110 countries have dry land which is at risk of desertification, primarily in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
For example, two thirds of the African continent is desert or arid. This phenomenon includes extensive arid geographic areas, of which nearly three-fourths have been degraded to some degree. The most serious aspect of this situation is that many African countries depend on their natural resources for survival, which means that the desertification of Africa is strongly tied to poverty, migration and food security.
Among the main causes of the deterioration of land in the arid areas are the deforestation and deterioration of tree and bush formations and the overexploitation of forests and mountain clearings. This situation is extremely serious because the forests and trees strengthen strategies for fighting poverty and reduce food insecurity, since they provide assets to the populations with the fewest resources – especially fire wood, construction materials and non-lumber products – and environmental services, and they help to diversify household income sources.
In the areas where INTERVIDA develops its projects, the populations use a large quantity of wood in the construction of roofs. The deforestation being suffered in the area increasingly makes it difficult to find wood for homes, which means people are forced to buy scrap metal and imported wood to cover their homes. This provokes the families’ debt. Furthermore, the use of scrap metal intensifies the harsh climactic conditions in terms of heat and cold, as well as the noise level during heavy rains, and also departs from the traditional aesthetic of the habitat.
Aware of this situation, the INTERVIDA teams in Mali, in collaboration with the Nubian Vault Association (L’Association la Voûte Nubienne), use a smart and long-lasting architectural alternative to the imported materials through the Earth Roofs Program in the Sahel region. This involves a technique which substitutes raw earth for wood and scrap metal as the material used in the construction of roofs and building structures. The aim of the project is that the communities learn this technique and put it into practice in order to reduce the deforestation associated with the construction.
The Nubian vault technique replaces roofs fashioned from scarp metal with vaults made purely from raw earth – used in the form of bricks and mortars – which are supported by load-bearing walls, also constructed from raw earth or laterite bricks, without the need for formwork. These vaults, constructed according to a simplified, standardized method and using only local tools, have proven solid and waterproof, something essential in an area where rains may be very heavy.
In addition to achieving better insulation against temperature and noise, the Nubian vault technique favors local economies and the autonomy of the communities: the families no longer need to save money before building a home, the materials can be obtained from the immediate area and the work and be paid or exchanged between the members of the community.
About INTERVIDA
FUNDACIÓN INTERVIDA is a nonpartisan, nondenominational and independent development NGO in special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Its objective is to contribute to sustainable human development towards improving the living conditions of the most disadvantaged communities. Currently, INTERVIDA is active in several countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia, offering its support to nearly five million people.
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