Once a prized source of protein among Bedouin tribes, the Arabian spiny-tailed lizard—known locally as ḍabb or dhab—is finding new attention as a window into folk traditions, desert ecology, and sustainability in Saudi Arabia. Like locusts eaten by Jews in Egypt and Yemen (get the recipe here), lizard tails are delighting Saudi Arabians as news of this dish circles social media. The roots of lizard tails are rooted in survival, like Americans who eat prairie oysters, Gazans eating whales that swim close to shore, or pickled pigs’ feet were for slaves in the Caribbean.

In the heart of the Arabian Peninsula, long before farms and refrigeration, desert communities relied on their surroundings to survive. Among the most unusual yet enduring examples of this resilience is the tradition of eating the spiny-tailed lizard (Uromastyx aegyptia), a reptile that thrives in the arid sands of Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE. Known in Arabic as ḍabb or dhab, the creature has been hunted, roasted, and stewed for generations by Bedouins who considered it a gift from the desert.

In many tribes, dhab stew was seen not as an exotic but as essential—a reliable protein source that could be found during long migrations. Historical accounts from travelers and early British explorers describe entire desert feasts centered on lizard meat, cooked slowly over open fires and served with flatbread. The meat, they wrote, was “white, mild, and a little like chicken.”

The Arabian spiny-tailed lizard is herbivorous, feeding on desert grasses, making it clean and permissible (halal) to many desert dwellers. The Prophet Muhammad reportedly neither ate nor forbade the consumption of ḍabb, leading Islamic scholars to conclude that while it’s not a delicacy for all, it is permissible—especially in times of need. Bedouins respected the animal for its toughness and spiritual symbolism: surviving where few other creatures could. To eat it was to honor the desert’s wisdom.

Traditionally, the lizard was hunted using snares or chased into burrows, then roasted whole or cut into chunks for dhab stew—a mix of meat, desert herbs, salt, and occasionally camel milk. The dish embodied the values of resourcefulness, adaptation, and gratitude—hallmarks of Arabian desert culture that began in what is known as Saudi Arabia today.

From a sustainability perspective, the lizard stew tradition is more than a curiosity—it’s a reflection of a closed-loop ecosystem. Bedouins hunted only what was needed, never to excess. The spiny-tailed lizard helped maintain insect and grass balance in the fragile desert biome. Understanding how traditional diets aligned with natural cycles offers modern lessons for food security in the Gulf.

Today, as Saudi Arabia reexamines its cultural identity through Vision 2030, heritage foods like dhab are being discussed not just as relics but as pathways to sustainable living. Perhaps this dhab will be a featured dish at one of the Saudi’s so-called sustainable resorts.

How do you hunt the reptiles:  “There are several ways to hunt the dabb lizard, one is to let it sink in water by pouring water into the hole and forcing it to come out, another way is by chasing it and hunting it especially if it is far from the hole, the other way of hunting it is to use a firearm,’’ said Saudi lizard hunter Majed al-Matrudi to Al Arabiya News.

This blog woldbirder provides photos and a recipe from Jordan:

Recipe for Dhub Mansaf  (recipe from eastern Jordan)

2 whole dhubs

½ kilo rice

5 pieces Arabic bread (Khubz mashrouh)

¼ kilo laban or yoghurt

100 g ghee

50 g pine nuts

Salt, pepper, allspice, cardamom

Serves 2 to 3.

Method: Catch two adult, well-grown dhubs, skin them and remove organs (except liver). Cut the dhubs into small pieces, wash them and cook in a small amount of water together with spices until the meat is half done. Add the laban and simmer until tender. Add the browned ghee, reserving a small quantity to brown the pine nuts. Meanwhile in another saucepan cook the rice. Keeping some bread aside to dip, break open the rest over a large tray, leaving an edging around the rim.  Spread more of the laban sauce over this and pile with rice. Arrange the pieces of dhub on top of the rice. Sprinkle the entire plate of rice and dhub, with browned pine nuts.

Eat with right hand.

Like the problematic hunting of birds and owls in Jordan and Saudi Arabia, modernization has made lizard hunting largely symbolic. They are a protected animal in the UAE but are still reportedly eaten in Jordan.

The ḍahb population is under pressure from habitat loss, 4×4 vehicle use, and over-hunting. Conservationists now warn that without regulation, this ancient species could disappear from Saudi sands. The Saudi Wildlife Authority has begun monitoring populations and promoting education to protect the reptile’s role in the desert ecosystem. Since there is no free press in Saudi Arabia, your guess on how that’s going is as good as mine.

Related Reads on Sustainable food:

The Birth of Bread in Jordan and Israel

The Sacred Ritual of Arabic Coffee

Saudi Vision 2030 and the Revival of Folk Culture

Sustainable Food From Desert Landscapes

UAE Green Finance and Cultural Sustainability

Eco-Tourism and Bedouin Heritage

By exploring forgotten folk dishes like lizard stew, Green Prophet continues to connect the dots between culture, ecology, and the future of sustainable living in the Middle East.

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In the desert heat of Kandahar, Afghanistan, where the asphalt cooks and air conditioners wheeze in surrender, Afghan taxi drivers have taken a cue from Ancient Persia. Temperatures are now over 104 degrees and air con repairs are too expensive. Forget Tesla’s climate control or fancy freon-fueled chillers—these drivers are mounting DIY windcatchers on their car roofs and turning their beat-up Toyotas into eco-cooling machines. The cost? $43.

Call it badgir 2.0: A clever, water-cooled evaporative system rigged from plastic jugs, PVC pipe, swamp-cooler pads, and a 12V pump, all held together by hope and centuries-old wisdom.

These contraptions—locally called “badnivil”—aren’t just a funky roadside gimmick. They’re actually working better than factory-installed AC in dry climates, cooling the entire cab and earning high praise from passengers, who now prefer the “natural AC” over the old mechanical kind.

“With these coolers, you feel the breeze everywhere,” says one driver in a now-viral AFP video. “The AC just blows cold at the front. This is more like nature.”

Related: 5 ways to use air conditioner water

These rooftop air chillers are inspired by windcatchers—tall structures in Persian architecture designed to funnel and cool breezes into homes, often enhanced with water or ice for maximum effect. Combine that principle with a little MacGyver spirit, and you’ve got Kandahar’s answer to climate adaptation on four wheels.

While the world waits for billion-dollar innovations to solve heat resilience, these Afghan tinkerers have already built theirs—for about $15. Afghan opium producers also rely on solar energy to grow poppies.

So… Want to Make Your Own McGyvered air con for your car?

You don’t need to be in Kandahar—or even be particularly handy—to build a mini version for your car. Here’s a stripped-down DIY guide to create your own Afghan-style windcatcher cooler. No tech degree or camel required.

?️ DIY: Afghan-Style Evaporative Car Cooler

What You’ll Need:
Item Notes

20L plastic water tank or jerry can (mounts on roof or trunk)
Swamp cooler pad / burlap / sponge (acts as the cooling surface)
Small 12V submersible pump (available online or at garden shops)
Flexible tubing or hose to circulate water
Ducting or vent hose to channel cooled air inside
Mesh screen keeps bugs out, air in
Basic tools, zip ties, sealant for rigging and mounting
Optional: solar panel to power the pump without draining your battery

How Jerry-rigged AC Works

The pump draws water from the tank and keeps the cooling pad wet.

As the car moves (or from natural breeze), air blows through the wet pad.

Water evaporates, heat disappears, and cool air is piped inside.

Because your AC runs on water and physics—not gasoline.

Build Instructions (simplified)

Mount a plastic box or crate on the car roof with airflow holes on both sides. Stuff it with wet cooling pads, burlap, or even old T-shirts—just keep them moist.

Run tubing from a small water tank (placed nearby) to a pump that trickles water onto the pad.

Connect a duct from the back of the box down into your cabin (through a window or vent).

Power your pump via your car battery or a tiny solar panel.

Enjoy the quiet hum of sustainability while everyone else melts in traffic.

Pro tip: If your city is humid, this won’t work as well—evaporative cooling is most effective in dry desert air. For urban use, pair it with a small fan for airflow boost.

The Afghan windcatcher car cooler isn’t just clever. It’s low-cost climate adaptation. With rising global temperatures and millions of cars still without functioning air con, it’s a design-for-the-rest-of-us moment. A punk rock move in a world of overdesigned heat tech. Plus, it’s deeply sustainable: no refrigerants, no increased fuel use, no carbon guilt. Just water, airflow, and a little DIY spirit.

My friends in the hot and dry Negev Desert own a Desert Cooler mounted on the roof to keep their home cool, and delightfully more humid in the hot, desert and dry sun. Why these have fallen out of fashion is anyone’s guess.

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A new study by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) paints a stark picture of agricultural land degradation, particularly in the Arab region. More than 46 million hectares—nearly two-thirds of all land suffering human-induced damage in the region—are now at risk. The findings, published in Agriculture (MDPI), stress the urgent need to restore degraded land to safeguard food supplies, especially where climate pressures are mounting.

The Arab Spring started because of the price of bread and the lack of water resources to grow food. The civil war in Syria began for the same reasons. As the Arab world gets drier, conflicts in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan will only get more intense.

Globally, an estimated 1.66 billion hectares of land have been degraded by human activities such as deforestation, overgrazing, mismanaged irrigation, and heavy chemical use. Over 60 percent of that damage falls on croplands and pastures—the soils that feed 95 percent of the world’s population. If allowed to worsen, degradation could undercut entire agrifood systems and the communities that depend on them.

Related: this greenhouse technology grows food on salty aquifers 

Across the Arab world, croplands face a perfect storm of stressors. Excessive fertilizers and pesticides erode soil ecology. Poor drainage and over-irrigation drive salinization, leaving fields crusted with salt. Rising temperatures, dwindling groundwater, and more frequent sand-and-dust storms—all amplified by climate change—compound the crisis. These are unmistakably human-driven pressures, and they are accelerating. Consider that Morocco lost half its wheat last year from drought. How many more migrants and climate refugees from the Middle East and North Africa can Europe accept? The solution is to help.

Less than 4 percent of degraded land in the Arab region is currently earmarked for restoration. FAO analysts calculate that rehabilitating 26 million hectares of worn-out cropland could trim yield gaps by as much as 50 percent for oil crops and lift cereals, roots, and tubers toward their full potential—a direct boost to local food security and rural incomes.

The study urges governments, farmers, investors, and researchers to adopt integrated soil, water, and land-management strategies designed to stop further degradation and rebuild fertility. Rather than relying on one-off projects, it recommends coordinated regional programs that share data, finance, and know-how—tailored to the diverse ecological zones from Morocco’s Atlantic coast to Iraq’s river valleys. Israel has water technologies from water companies such as Netafim to help rip irrigation deliver more drops per crop.

Momentum is growing. Recent ministerial meetings in Riyadh committed to ambitious restoration targets, and the UN’s FAO-backed NENA Regional Investment Framework for Ecosystem Restoration is lining up “champion countries” to pilot scalable projects. Innovative tools such as the Suitability Crop Platform—an open database of soil profiles, climate metrics, and crop requirements—are making it easier for farmers and planners to match the right crops to recovering lands.

See this museum of Middle East soil in the UAE

Healthy soils do more than grow food. They store carbon, regulate water, and support biodiversity—services that underpin every other climate-adaptation effort. By restoring degraded fields, countries in the Arab region can build jobs, reduce rural poverty, and bolster resilience against heat and drought. The lesson is clear: investing in the ground beneath our feet is the fastest way to secure food sovereignty in a hotter, drier future.

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A groundbreaking study conducted by geologists from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev has revealed crucial insights into how climate fluctuations over the past 230,000 years have influenced the migration of drainage divides in Israel’s Negev Desert. Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the research provides the first-ever time-dependent record of drainage divide migration rates, offering a unique perspective on how climate shifts shape the Earth’s surface.

Drainage divides are topographic boundaries that separate neighboring drainage basins—areas where water from rainfall or melting snow flows into a single outlet, such as a river or lake. The migration of these divides can have significant effects on the surrounding landscape, including the redistribution of water, rock particles, and even ecological niches. While previous studies have examined long-term average rates of divide migration, this new research reveals more detailed, time-sensitive data on the process.

The research team, led by Prof. Liran Goren, along with Elhanan Harel and collaborators from the University of Pittsburgh and the Geological Survey of Israel, focused on a unique field site in the Negev Desert. They studied a sequence of terraces, which allowed them to trace the movement of drainage divides across thousands of years.

Linking Divide Migration to Climate Change

One of the most exciting aspects of this study is the discovery that episodes of rapid drainage divide migration correlate with periods of climate change in the region. The researchers found that during certain climatic fluctuations, the migration rate of divides doubled compared to other periods. This finding sheds light on how climate changes over millennia influence the physical dynamics of the Earth’s surface.

“It’s an exciting discovery,” said Prof. Goren, whose team used field observations, river terrace dating, and numerical simulations to construct the migration timeline. “We were not expecting to discover the correlation with climate fluctuations nor the speed with which the divide shifted. It adds to our knowledge of the drivers affecting the Earth’s surface evolution in fascinating ways.”

The Negev Desert, often seen as a barren landscape, has now proven to be a key site for understanding climate’s influence on natural processes. While the area may seem unremarkable at first glance, it holds valuable clues about how the Earth has evolved over time. Elhanan Harel, a PhD student involved in the research, expressed awe at how this small desert channel could tell such a powerful story about divide migration and climate history.

“We discovered that even this modest site can provide a remarkable record of drainage divide migration,” Harel said. “This discovery will contribute to the ongoing scientific conversation about the climatic history of the Negev and offer a new way to think about the dynamics of our planet’s surface.”

The study not only enhances our understanding of landscape evolution in arid regions but also opens up new avenues for examining the relationship between climate and the Earth’s topography. As the researchers continue to explore the Negev Desert’s secrets, the findings are likely to inform future studies on the broader impact of climate change on ecosystems and natural landscapes worldwide.

The research was supported by the United States–Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF) and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF-Geomorphology and Land-use Dynamics).

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Tucked away in the red sands at the base of Mount Alvaah in Sharjah, Al Faya Lodge is a striking blend of contemporary design and desert heritage. Designed by the Dubai-based architecture studio Anarchitect, the boutique hotel and saltwater spa reimagine two stone buildings originally constructed over 50 years ago. Once a clinic and a grocery shop, these modest structures have been transformed into a luxurious five-room retreat that embraces both sustainability and the rich history of the UAE’s desert landscape.

Related: travel to one of these 10 best luxury desert resorts in the UAE

Al Faya Lodge is a delicate balance of old and new. The original stone buildings have been preserved and enhanced with thoughtful interventions that give them a new purpose. To preserve the spirit of the desert, Anarchitect used local materials like concrete and stone in the new structures that complement the original buildings. Weathered steel, with its striking rust hue, was chosen to highlight these additions, tying the design to the rich iron ore deposits found in the region. This use of metal not only reflects the area’s natural landscape but also nods to its industrial history, being near one of the UAE’s first petrol stations.

The lodge’s design takes the region’s extreme climate into careful consideration. Sharjah’s desert environment presents a unique set of challenges, from searing heat and prolonged sun exposure in the summer to chilly nighttime temperatures. Jonathan Ashmore, Anarchitect’s founder, emphasized that any design in such an environment must account for these factors. “The elements—sunlight, sandstorms, and temperature swings—require materials and designs that are both durable and practical,” he explains. The team rose to this challenge by creating raised terraced decks, over-sailing roofs, and shaded screens to keep the hot sun at bay, while also ensuring comfort for visitors.

Durability was a key factor when choosing materials. Polished concrete, granite, and travertine were selected not only for their ability to withstand the desert’s elements but also for their beauty. Hardwood and plastered-render were incorporated to weather naturally over time, enhancing the building’s aesthetics while ensuring a long lifespan in the harsh desert climate.

Each of the five rooms at Al Faya Lodge has been designed with star-gazing in mind, featuring skylights to give guests an unobstructed view of the desert sky. The master suite even has a private roof terrace, perfect for soaking in the serene surroundings. The lodge can be booked in its entirety, offering exclusive use of the saltwater spa and open-air swimming pool, along with access to other luxurious amenities, including a dining room, reception area, and an outdoor terrace with a fire pit for evenings spent under the stars.

The result is a desert retreat that celebrates both the timeless beauty of the landscape and the importance of sustainable architecture. Al Faya Lodge’s thoughtful design invites guests to reconnect with nature, while also showcasing how modern architecture can thrive in some of the world’s most extreme climates. With its perfect blend of luxury, comfort, and environmental sensitivity, Anarchitect has created a one-of-a-kind destination that sets a new standard for desert architecture.

Photography by Fernando Guerra.

::Al Faya Lodge (about $250, per night)

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If you’re looking for a unique and luxurious getaway in an exotic Middle East location, look no further than the desert resorts of the UAE just outside of Abu Dhabi or Dubai. These remarkable retreats offer a combination of serenity, adventure, and authentic Arabian experiences, perfect for those seeking both relaxation and excitement. Whether it’s dining beneath the stars, indulging in spa treatments under the open sky, or simply soaking in the beauty of the desert landscape, these resorts promise unforgettable memories. Ask for sustainability commitments before you book or when you get there be an inquisitive guest.

Dubai

Al Maha Desert Resort

Located just an hour from Dubai, Al Maha Desert Resort is a true desert oasis. Set amidst the vast dunes, the resort features 42 exclusive villas, each with its own private pool, providing guests with unparalleled privacy. Spend your days lounging by your private pool or visit the resort’s outdoor pool, where you can relax with sweeping views of the desert. The resort’s all-day dining restaurant, Al Diwaan, offers exquisite meals, while the spa provides a range of treatments to ensure total relaxation. Guests may even be greeted by Arabian Oryx and gazelles while enjoying breakfast on their private terrace.

Rates start at Dhs3,616. About $950 a night. Tel: (0)4 832 9900. marriott.com

Bab Al Shams Desert Resort

A short drive from Dubai, Bab Al Shams is a renowned luxury desert retreat that blends adventure with comfort. Recently renovated in 2022, the resort now offers enhanced guest rooms, exciting new culinary offerings, and a host of outdoor activities such as fat biking, desert safaris, and archery. Dining experiences include the Middle Eastern-inspired Ninive restaurant and the Anwā Sunset Lounge, where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the desert as the sun sets.

Rates from Dhs1,050 about $300 USD a night. Tel: (0)4 809 6100. babalshams.com

Terra Solis Dubai

For an authentic Bedouin-inspired escape, Terra Solis Dubai provides a truly unique experience. Situated in a vast 371,000-square-metre landscape, this desert resort features luxurious accommodations such as spacious Polaris bell tents, Perseid lodges, and Orion pool lodges. With its star constellation-inspired design and serene surroundings, Terra Solis is an ideal retreat just 30 minutes from the city.

Rates from Dhs440 about 100 USD a night. Tel: (0)4 456 1956. terrasolisdubai.com

Abu Dhabi

Anantara Qasr Al Sarab

Nestled in the heart of the Empty Quarter, Anantara Qasr Al Sarab is a secluded desert sanctuary offering breathtaking views across endless rolling dunes. The resort features 140 rooms, 14 suites, and 52 private pool villas, each beautifully decorated with traditional Arabian touches. Separated from the main resort, the villas offer ultimate privacy, and the serene atmosphere makes it an ideal destination for those seeking both relaxation and adventure.

Rates from Dhs936 about $250 USD a night. Tel: (0)2 886 2088. anantara.com

Bateen Liwa Resort

A new addition to the Abu Dhabi desert resorts, Bateen Liwa Resort offers a luxurious experience in the heart of the desert. This resort is part of Bab Al Nojoum’s glamping collection and features private villas with plunge pools, alfresco dining spaces, and fire pits. With facilities like a modern spa, infinity pool, and stargazing experiences, Bateen Liwa Resort ensures that guests enjoy both comfort and adventure in an extraordinary desert setting.

Rates from Dhs692 about $200 USD a night. Tel: (0)2 894 8888. babalnojoum.com

Ras Al Khaimah

The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert

The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert is set within a 1,235-acre protected nature reserve, offering the perfect blend of tranquility and adventure. Guests can stay in luxurious Bedouin-style villas, each with its own private pool and stunning desert views. For a truly immersive experience, try activities like camel trekking, archery lessons, or nature walks. The resort’s dining options, including Sonara Camp and the open-sky Moon Bar, offer a perfect end to your day in the desert.

Rates from Dhs1,329 about $400 USD a night. Tel: (0)7 206 7777. ritzcarlton.com

Sharjah

Al Badayer Retreat

Al Badayer Retreat in Sharjah offers a unique blend of adventure, culture, and serenity. Situated inside a traditional Arabian fort, the resort provides modern comforts while offering authentic Emirati experiences like falconry, dune bashing, and quad biking. With its focus on eco-friendly luxury, Al Badayer Retreat offers an unforgettable stay in the heart of the desert.

Rates from Dhs350 about $150 USD a night. Tel: (0)6 556 0777. sharjahcollection.ae

Al Faya Retreat

For those seeking privacy and tranquility, Al Faya Retreat in Mleiha desert is the perfect choice. This luxurious retreat, originally built in the 1960s, has been expertly converted to offer a serene atmosphere while allowing guests to explore the area’s rich history and archaeological sites. The retreat’s unique, hands-free spa and stargazing opportunities make it an ideal destination for those looking to relax and unwind.

Rates from Dhs3,499 about $950 USD a night. Tel: (0)6 538 7857. sharjahcollection.ae

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The National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC) has launched a project to study and assess degraded sites in Saudi Arabia using internationally recognized methods and advanced technologies.

The NCVC stated in press release today that the project aims to develop rehabilitation plans for areas in the eastern and central regions, specifically within Riyadh and the Eastern Province. It is part of a broader national strategy aligned with the objectives of the Saudi Green Initiative and Saudi Vision 2030.

The project focuses on identifying degraded areas, analyzing the causes of deterioration, and implementing future plans for monitoring and restoring these lands using cutting-edge technologies and best practices. It encompasses short-, medium-, and long-term strategies to rehabilitate affected areas and ensure the sustained effectiveness of restoration efforts over time.

As part of the project, the NCVC will carry out a thorough assessment using remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) to determine the extent of degradation. Fieldwork will involve sampling soil, plants, and water, as well as conducting economic and social impact studies in the targeted areas. Based on the findings, the center will prioritize sites for rehabilitation and develop detailed restoration plans.

According to the release, the NCVC is committed to protecting and enhancing vegetation cover across the Kingdom, focusing on biodiversity restoration and sustainable resource management. It manages rangelands, forests, and national parks, tackles illegal logging, and promotes the sustainable use of natural resources. These efforts align with its vision of fostering vibrant vegetation cover that supports environmental sustainability and improves the quality of life.

Saudi Arabia initiates a wild plant survey

The post How degraded is the Saudi desert? appeared first on Green Prophet.

Deep in the Kubuqi desert in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, rows of blue solar panels glisten under the winter sun, converting sunlight into electricity that flows into thousands of households. Sandy and mostly devoid of life, the Kubuqi Desert in Inner Mongolia once had a reputation for being a “sea of death.”

Now, according to NASA tracking solar power developments in China, China’s dune fields have become a sea of solar energy, transformed by a surge of newly installed solar panels. The construction is part of China’s multiyear plan to build a “solar great wall” designed to generate enough energy to power Beijing. China is now the world’s biggest producer of solar power.

The project, expected to be finished in 2030, will be 400 kilometers (250 miles) long, 5 kilometers (3 miles) wide, and achieve a maximum generating capacity of 100 gigawatts. So far, Chinese officials say they have installed about 5.4 gigawatts. The US Geological Survey which is part of the Department of The Interior captured photos from 2017 to 2024 to show how quickly the plant has expanded.

The Kubuqi’s sunny weather, flat terrain, and proximity to industrial centers make it a desirable location for solar power generation. Panels are being installed in a long, narrow band of dunes just south of the Yellow River between the cities of Baotou and Bayannur. NASA’s OLI (Operational Land Imager) and OLI-2 on Landsat 8 and 9 captured this pair of images showing the expanding footprint of solar farms between December 2017 (left) and December 2024 (right).

The solar farm that resembles a galloping horse—Junma Solar Power Station—was completed in 2019, setting a Guinness world record for the largest image made of solar panels.

It generates approximately 2 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, enough to meet the yearly electricity needs of 300,000 to 400,000 people.

Junma means “fine horse” in Mandarin.

In addition to generating power, planners hope that the installation will have other benefits. They think it may help curb desertification by preventing the movement of dunes and slowing winds. Also, the elevated panels create shade that slows evaporation and may make it easier to grow pasture grasses and other crops beneath them. Analysis of Landsat data indicates that solar projects have contributed to the greening of deserts in other parts of China in recent years.

Since 2024 China leads the world in solar energy production

As of June 2024, China led the world in operating solar farm capacity with 386,875 megawatts, representing about 51 percent of the global total, according to Global Energy Monitor’s Global Solar Power Tracker.

The United States ranks second with 79,364 megawatts (11 percent), followed by India with 53,114 megawatts (7 percent).

China’s solar growth has been particularly rapid during the past decade. Between 2017 and 2023, the country’s operational solar capacity surged by an average of 39,994 megawatts per year. The solar capacity of the United States expanded by an average of 8,137 megawatts over the same period.

Beneath the panels, different types of shrubs stand tall despite their dormant yellowed leaves, shielding the land from wind and sand.

“By the end of 2023, this one-gigawatt solar power project was successfully connected to the grid, transforming over 30,000 mu (about 2,000 hectares) of desert into a sea of solar blue, with thriving vegetation flourishing beneath the panels,” said Na Guiting, who is responsible for the solar great wall project.

The project Na is working on is the first phase of the Kubuqi Desert Ordos Central-Northern New Energy Base.

As one of China’s first large-scale renewable energy bases with a capacity exceeding 10 gigawatts, the base is set to develop eight gigawatts of solar power, four gigawatts of wind power, and four gigawatts of supporting coal power.

The electricity generated will be transmitted to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region through an integrated system combining solar, wind, coal, and energy storage, with 230,000 mu dedicated to photovoltaic sand control.

Once the project is completed, it will deliver approximately 40 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, with over 50 percent coming from clean energy sources, according to Na.

It is equivalent to saving about 6 million tonnes of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by around 16 million tonnes each year, Na added.

The Kubuqi project exemplifies China’s broader effort to integrate renewable energy with ecological restoration. In the arid expanses of northern China, advanced technology is reshaping the battle against desertification, turning it into a narrative of resilience and renewal.

“I never would have imagined that as a farmer, I could find work in the sand dunes,” said Qin Zhaoping, a resident of Hengliang Township in Gansu’s Gulang County. His job involves adjusting the sprinkler irrigation systems beneath photovoltaic panels and tending to the thriving sand plants.

According to official data, 53 percent of China’s treatable desertified land has been restored, leading to a net reduction of approximately 4.33 million hectares of degraded land.

In November 2024, a three-gigawatt solar power station in Otog Front Banner of Ordos, built by CHN Energy Investment Group, was connected to the grid. It is currently the largest single-capacity solar power base built on a coal mining subsidence zone in China.

The power station is expected to generate 5.7 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, sufficient to meet the yearly energy needs of two million families.

The post China’s solar great wall to power Beijing – captured by NASA appeared first on Green Prophet.

iyris delivers more resilient and reliable produce.

Iyris, a company from Saudi Arabia founded by foreign nationals, makes it easier to grow the likes of tomatoes – one of the world’s biggest fresh produce and processing crops – in environments increasingly impacted by climate change. The patented process, which tackles the challenges of hot climates, has the potential to revolutionize where crops are grown to address global food security issues. We interviewed one of the founders Mark Tester earlier this year on the innovation he championed. The company used to be marketed under RedSea Farms.

Their newly patented polyploid hybridization grafting process – mimics and significantly accelerates the natural evolutionary process of breeding genetic resilience into plant rootstocks. With this groundbreaking innovation, farmers can address, without having to change the way that they farm their land, their most urgent need: reliable, resistant crops that can mitigate and combat climate change.

The technology makes crops more resilient to stressful abiotic environments (e.g., salt, drought, heat and pests) delivering higher yields for farmers and reducing crop failure risk. The timescale and predictability of genetic resilience trait integration is significantly accelerated compared to previous methods. 

Related: How Daniel Hillel pioneered drip irrigation

Commercial trials of iyris’ current hybrid grafted diploid rootstocks, delivered an average 20-25% tomato plant yield increase over the best performing commercial alternatives. Expectations are that using this patented polyploid breeding process, yield increases will be even more significant. Results to date have demonstrated that polyploids can double yields when compared to diploids. 

Uniquely, iyris’ plant science innovation allows multiple plant traits to be integrated simultaneously. Previously, scientists and breeders targeted single traits and experienced low predictability rates for even a single integration.

“These achievements in plant science are unprecedented and a significant moment in our mission to feed the world sustainably. iyris can now offer farmers a commercially validated and reliable solution addressing the environmental and economic challenges of today – in tomatoes alone, that’s worth billions of dollars annually,” says John Keppler, Executive Chairperson of iyris.

iyris’ published rootstock patent – ‘Polyploidization of interspecific tomato hybrids to create stable and fertile rootstocks’ follows decades of work and research, most recently at Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), led by iyris co-founder, Professor Mark Tester – the world’s pre-eminent plant scientist. Professor Tester’s thesis developed from research (with his then – PhD student, Yveline Pailles) into resilient relatives of the tomato growing on sea-facing rock faces in the Galapagos Islands.   

With increasing global temperature, and dwindling freshwater resources, ground-breaking innovative agriculture solutions are vital to break the food-water-energy nexus. The impact of climate change on global farming is becoming starker every year, and global food production is estimated to need to increase by 50%, by 2050, to feed soaring population rates. iyris’ innovation is perfectly timed given its potential to change the way that crops are grown, allow sustainable agriculture in previously unviable territories for farming and protect farmers from crop failure risk. 

Related: Lycored makes kosher and halal, non-animal tomato-based dyes

With its resilient hybrid tomato rootstocks already available in the market, iyris has proven the commercial viability of their technology in open-field trials. iyris has partnerships with two of the world’s largest tomato producers, with more commercial agreements to come. iyris hybrid rootstocks outperformed the best available alternatives across multiple crop seasons, hybrid tomato rootstocks sales have already exceeded 1 million units.  

The market context is extremely positive. The processed tomato market (2023 data) is estimated at US$51.8 billion with 182 million tons produced annually. iyris and Professor Tester have already started research into other plant groups such as eggplants, melons and pumpkins, with the potential to increase commercial results and improve resilience exponentially.

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Valley fever is an emerging fungal disease in the western United States that most often causes flu-like symptoms, but can also cause dangerous or even deadly complications.

By analyzing data on reported cases of Valley fever in California, which have increased dramatically over the last two decades, researchers from University of California San Diego and University of California, Berkeley, have identified seasonal patterns that could help individuals and public health officials better prepare for future surges in Valley fever cases.

Related: Microplastics you breath in the desert

The findings also have important implications for how the changing climate can exacerbate the threat of infectious diseases. The findings are published in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas.

The researchers collaborated closely with the California Department of Health (CDPH) to analyze all reported Valley fever cases in California from 2000 to 2021. By comparing these to seasonal climate data, they discovered how the disease cycles seasonally across different California counties and identified how these cycles are influenced by drought periods.

The researchers found that while most cases occur during the period from September to November, there were differences in seasonal patterns and timing between counties and years.

“Most seasonal infectious diseases show a peak in cases every year, so we were surprised to see that there were certain years during which few or no counties had a seasonal peak in Valley fever cases,” said author Alexandra Heaney. “This made us wonder what was driving these differences in seasonality between years, and based on the timing we observed, we hypothesized that drought might be playing a role.”

The researchers found that on average, counties in the San Joaquin Valley and Central Coast regions had the most pronounced seasonal peaks, though the peaks started earlier in San Joaquin Valley.

“This is valuable information to time public health messaging aimed at educating the public about the symptoms of Valley fever and how to protect themselves,” added Heaney.

Valley fever is caused by spores from the soil-dwelling Coccidioides fungus. People contract Valley fever by inhaling infectious spores that become aerosolized when the soil is disturbed by wind or human activity. Valley fever is most likely to affect people who are exposed to airborne dust frequently, including those who work outdoors. However, the disease is not contagious.

Valley fever has long been a problem in the American Southwest, but the number of cases has skyrocketed in recent years, tripling from 2014–2018 and again from 2018–2022, according to the CDPH. However, because it is still relatively rare, and because it causes similar symptoms to other respiratory infections, including COVID-19, Valley fever is often misdiagnosed.

When left untreated, the fungus can cause severe damage to the respiratory system and spread to other parts of the body, such as the skin, bones and even the brain, the latter of which can be deadly.

“Knowing when the Valley fever season starts and how intense it will be can help health care practitioners know when they should be on high alert for new cases,” said corresponding author Justin Remais. “This is the first study to pin down exactly when disease risk is highest in all of California’s endemic counties, as well as places where the disease is newly emerging.”

The researchers observed that during drought periods, seasonal peaks in Valley fever cases are less severe. However, when the rains return, these peaks are particularly high. One hypothesis to explain this pattern is that droughts allow heat-resistant Coccidioides spores to outlast their less-hardy competitors. When rains return, the fungus is able to proliferate widely with less competition for moisture and nutrients.

Another hypothesis suggests that the links between Valley fever and drought may be due to drought’s impact on rodents that host the Coccidioides fungus. Because rodent populations decline during droughts, and because dead rodents are thought to be an important source of nutrients for the fungus, it may be able to survive and spread more easily in drought conditions.

“This work is an important example of how infectious diseases are influenced by climate conditions,” said Heaney. “Even though droughts appear to decrease Valley fever cases in the short term, the net effect is an increase in cases over time, particularly as we experience more frequent and severe droughts due to climate change.”

Individuals can help protect themselves against Valley fever during dry and dusty periods by minimizing time outdoors and wearing face coverings that can block dust. The researchers also emphasize the need for more thorough monitoring of the Valley fever fungus, which can be difficult to detect.

The team is now expanding the range of their analyses to include other Valley fever hotspots in the United States.

“Arizona is much dustier than California and has very different climate dynamics, and about two thirds of cases in the United States occur in Arizona, so that’s where we’re looking next,” said Heaney. “Understanding where, when, and in what conditions Valley fever is most prevalent is critical for public health officials, physicians, and the public to take precautions during periods of increased risk.”

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