Biodiversity loss is also expected to encourage the genetic
erosion of local livestock and plant varieties and species
living in fragile ecosystems (Abahussain et al. 2002; Mansour et al. 2011).
The consequences of desertification are deeply felt in
rural areas. They can be listed as follows: the decline of soil
productivity, intensive erosion, salinization, loss of biodiversity, climate change, and degradation of rangeland
(Zurqani et al. 2018, 2019). This will lead to complicated
social-economic consequences which have an effect on the
stability of the country recently and in the future.
8.4 Efforts to Combat Desertification
in Libya
Since the early 1960s, Libya has taken serious measures to
combat desertification as part of a broad policy in the
framework of the National Plan for Agricultural Development which takes into account the objectives of local
development on one hand and the harsh environmental
conditions prevailing in the countries on the other. Libya has
adopted a number of measures and actions to control desertification during the last four decades by implementing a
range of diverse projects in many areas (i.e. forest, pastures,
sand dune fixation, soil and water conservation, resistance to
erosion and integrated agricultural development).
Libya has conducted a number of measures and projects
to control desertification, which include sand dunes fixation,
the establishment of windbreaks, reforestation of fallow
forest land, establishment of terraces to combat soil erosion,
preservation of rainwater on sloping agricultural land, and
following of the special agricultural cycle to maintain soil
fertility, especially in the areas of cultivation of grain, as
well as the protection and improvement of natural pastures
(ACSAD and Libyan experts 2005).
Sand dunes stabilization projects have been conducted in
Libya since the 1950s. A number of methods and techniques
were used to protect lands from moving sands. One of the
most famous methods is sand stabilization with oil. This
method was used in 1953 when the Forestry Department of
Agriculture in Libya began a long-range program of
afforestation and sand dune stabilization to reclaim some of
the wastelands of the Libyan desert. The basic aim of the
program is the creation of a “green belt” 50 km wide
extending the entire length of the Libyan coastline from
Tunisia to Egypt. In 1953 the Forestry Department reclaimed
60,000 hectares of dune land. Most of the area has been
planted with some 36 million acacia and eucalyptus
seedlings grown in Libya. In 1960, the Forestry Department
working with Esso Standard Libya Inc. initiated an experiment with an oil product which sprayed oil on sand dunes to
form a coating that stabilized the dunes for a year. The
seedlings were planted before spraying oil. The plant trees
then grew to stabilize the sand dunes. The method that was
used proved to be successful. This method replaced the
traditional method called “dissing”. Dissing involves planting seedlings in plots during the rainy winter season and
surrounding the plots with windbreaks of dried grass. This
method was expensive, slow, and limited (Commonwealth
Forestry Association 1969). Libya has embarked yearly
plantation campaigns since 1990 which aimed at severely
degraded lands in order to rehabilitee lands and establishment of national parks and wildlife to combat desertification
and preserve biodiversity.
Other measures that have been taken by Libya were to
establish institutions working in combating desertification to
plan and organize these efforts. The main task was assigned to
the Agriculture Ministry to liaise and coordinate these efforts.
This led to the signature of United Nations Conversions to
Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in 1984 and to the formation of the National Committee to Combat Desertification
(NCCD). NCCD is assigned as the national coordinator to
combat desertification and is a focal point to UNCCD.
NCCD is a cross-sector committee formed by members
from all interested parties in combating desertification.
The NCCD has produced a National Action Plan (NAP) to
combat desertification which includes a number of policies,
plans, and projects. The NAP is an integrated plan as a part
of the development plan of Libya and provides a scientific
framework for combating desertification and the development of natural resources within a comprehensive concept
that conforms to the Agenda of the twenty-first century and
is in line with international efforts to combat and reduce
desertification.
Therefore, there was a necessity to develop and update
laws and legislative basis to aid efforts to compact desertification and achieve goals and requirements of sustainable
development. There are two types of legislation which aid in
combating desertification and protecting natural resources.
They are natural resource protection legislation and legislation regulating institutions involved in the protection of
natural resources. Table 8.2 listed the legislation mentioned.
Despite a dedicated effort from state governments and
communities and the range of policy initiatives to promote
sustainable natural resource use, Libya still has some significant challenges ahead to achieve ecologically sustainable
land management.
126
B. A. Nwer et al.
erosion of local livestock and plant varieties and species
living in fragile ecosystems (Abahussain et al. 2002; Mansour et al. 2011).
The consequences of desertification are deeply felt in
rural areas. They can be listed as follows: the decline of soil
productivity, intensive erosion, salinization, loss of biodiversity, climate change, and degradation of rangeland
(Zurqani et al. 2018, 2019). This will lead to complicated
social-economic consequences which have an effect on the
stability of the country recently and in the future.
8.4 Efforts to Combat Desertification
in Libya
Since the early 1960s, Libya has taken serious measures to
combat desertification as part of a broad policy in the
framework of the National Plan for Agricultural Development which takes into account the objectives of local
development on one hand and the harsh environmental
conditions prevailing in the countries on the other. Libya has
adopted a number of measures and actions to control desertification during the last four decades by implementing a
range of diverse projects in many areas (i.e. forest, pastures,
sand dune fixation, soil and water conservation, resistance to
erosion and integrated agricultural development).
Libya has conducted a number of measures and projects
to control desertification, which include sand dunes fixation,
the establishment of windbreaks, reforestation of fallow
forest land, establishment of terraces to combat soil erosion,
preservation of rainwater on sloping agricultural land, and
following of the special agricultural cycle to maintain soil
fertility, especially in the areas of cultivation of grain, as
well as the protection and improvement of natural pastures
(ACSAD and Libyan experts 2005).
Sand dunes stabilization projects have been conducted in
Libya since the 1950s. A number of methods and techniques
were used to protect lands from moving sands. One of the
most famous methods is sand stabilization with oil. This
method was used in 1953 when the Forestry Department of
Agriculture in Libya began a long-range program of
afforestation and sand dune stabilization to reclaim some of
the wastelands of the Libyan desert. The basic aim of the
program is the creation of a “green belt” 50 km wide
extending the entire length of the Libyan coastline from
Tunisia to Egypt. In 1953 the Forestry Department reclaimed
60,000 hectares of dune land. Most of the area has been
planted with some 36 million acacia and eucalyptus
seedlings grown in Libya. In 1960, the Forestry Department
working with Esso Standard Libya Inc. initiated an experiment with an oil product which sprayed oil on sand dunes to
form a coating that stabilized the dunes for a year. The
seedlings were planted before spraying oil. The plant trees
then grew to stabilize the sand dunes. The method that was
used proved to be successful. This method replaced the
traditional method called “dissing”. Dissing involves planting seedlings in plots during the rainy winter season and
surrounding the plots with windbreaks of dried grass. This
method was expensive, slow, and limited (Commonwealth
Forestry Association 1969). Libya has embarked yearly
plantation campaigns since 1990 which aimed at severely
degraded lands in order to rehabilitee lands and establishment of national parks and wildlife to combat desertification
and preserve biodiversity.
Other measures that have been taken by Libya were to
establish institutions working in combating desertification to
plan and organize these efforts. The main task was assigned to
the Agriculture Ministry to liaise and coordinate these efforts.
This led to the signature of United Nations Conversions to
Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in 1984 and to the formation of the National Committee to Combat Desertification
(NCCD). NCCD is assigned as the national coordinator to
combat desertification and is a focal point to UNCCD.
NCCD is a cross-sector committee formed by members
from all interested parties in combating desertification.
The NCCD has produced a National Action Plan (NAP) to
combat desertification which includes a number of policies,
plans, and projects. The NAP is an integrated plan as a part
of the development plan of Libya and provides a scientific
framework for combating desertification and the development of natural resources within a comprehensive concept
that conforms to the Agenda of the twenty-first century and
is in line with international efforts to combat and reduce
desertification.
Therefore, there was a necessity to develop and update
laws and legislative basis to aid efforts to compact desertification and achieve goals and requirements of sustainable
development. There are two types of legislation which aid in
combating desertification and protecting natural resources.
They are natural resource protection legislation and legislation regulating institutions involved in the protection of
natural resources. Table 8.2 listed the legislation mentioned.
Despite a dedicated effort from state governments and
communities and the range of policy initiatives to promote
sustainable natural resource use, Libya still has some significant challenges ahead to achieve ecologically sustainable
land management.
126
B. A. Nwer et al.