Millions of Bees Left in Desert Melted, but Simple Pits Came to the Rescue
The unconventional methods employed to halt the advance of the Sahara Desert ended in disaster. Millions of bees, brought in with cooled hives to re-green the region, couldn't withstand the desert conditions where surface temperatures exceed 50°C. Massive colonies perished as the beeswax combs melted and collapsed. However, what millions of dollars' worth of projects failed to achieve, was accomplished by simple geometric figures etched into the ground, thanks to the combined efforts of scientists and local communities.
Due to years of persistent drought, the hardened soil was repelling the rainwater, causing it to run off the surface instead of absorbing it.
Stepping in to break this cycle, volunteers began digging simple water collection basins, known as 'half-moons'. These pits, dug to a depth of 25 centimeters and with diameters ranging from two to four meters, and whose ends face uphill, have created nothing short of a miracle.
According to data from the United Nations (UN), this simple method increases the water's infiltration into the soil by 70% while halving the erosion.
Thanks to the water accumulated in the pits, the soil cooled down, first the grasses, followed by shrubs and native trees began to regrow.
Researchers at Abdullahi Fodio University of Science and Technology in Nigeria tested the technique on the campus grounds and published the results in the International Journal of Agriculture and Earth Sciences.
Through the implementation of the crescent technique and the supplementation of organic fertilizer on barren land, 70% of which had been subjected to erosion, it was miraculously documented that vegetation returned just after a single rainy season.
Experts, highlighting that over 60% of agricultural lands in Sub-Saharan Africa have been degraded, suggest the integration of this low-cost traditional method into climate policies, rather than resorting to expensive mechanical methods or chemical fertilizers.
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