Promoting sustainable use and management of water and energy resources under global climate change in dry areas

摘要

Sustainable development of dry areas is based on the sustainable use and management of water and energy resources where water resources are mainly ground water,while energy resources are basically solar and/or wind.To promote sustainable development of these dry areas,it is imperative to conserve the use of water and energy resources through their appropriate management.The global climate phenomena observed in some developed and developing dry areas is attributed to the increase in the burning of fossil fuels causing release of huge amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere.On the other hand,the depletion of oil reserves as well as its increasing prices has prompted some countries to convert food grains into biofuels or ethanol which may restrict their exports of grain; thus causing a major problem for countries which do not enjoy food sufficiency.These changes in environmental and socio-economic conditions can be dealt with by ensuring the sustainable development of desert lands based on a holistic approach where agricultural,technological,socio-economic and environmental concepts are implemented.One of the expected global warming effects in Egypt is the sinking of parts of the delta leading to the loss of agricultural,industrial,housing and domestic facilities.Those living,cultivating and having other activities on this land may have to migrate to new areas.With the overpopulated delta and Nile valley,sustainable desert development is the solution to the problem of settling the displaced population.For this to be achieved,it is necessary to save enough water from our present share from the Nile through increasing water use efficiency in the irrigation and cultivation systems of the delta and the valley by: 1)decreasing water losses through water conveyance and distribution systems; 2)changing the present flood irrigation system to more appropriate techniques leading to the use of lower quantities of water; and 3)promoting regulations that would encourage farmers to use less amounts of water.For this to be achieved,it is proposed to create viable multipurpose communities based on a particular water basin serving reclaimed desert land,develop industrial and agro industrial as well as urban activities,which would cover the needs of those migrating from the sinking parts of the delta as well as others.Introduction