http://www.greenprophet.com/2008/12/ben-gurion-university-desertification-conference/ A sustainable news site on the Middle East Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:51:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.greenprophet.com/2008/12/ben-gurion-university-desertification-conference/#comment-1574 Stephen Klaber Wed, 03 Dec 2008 19:20:51 +0000 http://greenprophet.com/?p=4692#comment-1574 When studying desertification, do not skip one of its main causes: aquatic weeds. Water hyacinth, water lettuce, Typha and others clog the waters of Africa and elsewhere, sucking them dry. The Typha Australis infestation in Lake Chad and its tributaries is the dessication machine expanding the Sahel. All of these aquatic weeds need clearing, but clearing them is a never ending task. Without a profit, it will bankrupt anyone. Typha can be harvested at a profit in food and fuel and fiber. It is an extremely productive crop, but not just any can be eaten- aquatic weeds like pollutants and collect them. It is excellent feedstock for ethanol and can be made into "green charcoal" for traditional African use. The frontline against the desert is in the wetlands, turning swamps back into rivers and lakes. When studying desertification, do not skip one of its main causes: aquatic weeds. Water hyacinth, water lettuce, Typha and others clog the waters of Africa and elsewhere, sucking them dry. The Typha Australis infestation in Lake Chad and its tributaries is the dessication machine expanding the Sahel. All of these aquatic weeds need clearing, but clearing them is a never ending task. Without a profit, it will bankrupt anyone. Typha can be harvested at a profit in food and fuel and fiber. It is an extremely productive crop, but not just any can be eaten- aquatic weeds like pollutants and collect them. It is excellent feedstock for ethanol and can be made into “green charcoal” for traditional African use. The frontline against the desert is in the wetlands, turning swamps back into rivers and lakes.

]]> http://www.greenprophet.com/2008/12/ben-gurion-university-desertification-conference/#comment-1575 greenprophet Wed, 03 Dec 2008 03:56:31 +0000 http://greenprophet.com/?p=4692#comment-1575 Ben Gurion University to Host International Desertification Conference http://tinyurl.com/6xztms Ben Gurion University to Host International Desertification Conference http://tinyurl.com/6xztms

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