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- "Drought in Africa 2017", Obi Anyadike, IRIN, 3/17/2017.
Farmers, traders and consumers across East and Southern Africa are feeling the impact of consecutive seasons of drought that have scorched harvests and ruined livelihoods.
- "The 1930's Dust Bowl Drought", Rachelle Oblack, ThoughtCo, 2/20/2017.
The Plains region of the United States has a semi-arid, or steppe climate. The next driest to desert climates, semi-arid climates receive less than 20 inches (510 mm) of rainfall per year which makes drought a serious weather hazard. What's more, the Plains is positioned . High winds then generate dust storms.
- "Forests can help prevent floods and droughts", European Environment Agency (EEA), 9/24/2015.
Forests can retain excess rainwater, prevent extreme run-offs and reduce the damage from flooding. They can also help mitigate the effects of droughts.
- Bamboo, Wikipedia.
Bamboos include some of the fastest-growing plants on Earth, with reported growth rates up to 91 cm (36 in) in 24 hours.[4] However, the growth rate is dependent on local soil and climatic conditions, as well as species, and a more typical growth rate for many commonly cultivated bamboos in temperate climates is in the range of 3–10 cm (1.2–3.9 in) per day during the growing period.
originally posted by: 727Sky
The only problem I see is Bamboo sucks up allot of water to grow.. Bamboo in a survival situation where you can not find drinking water is a life saver. Each segment of the bamboo stalk is just about full of clear drinking water providing bugs have not drilled inside the cell. Bamboo even provides you a straw if you take a small shoot and place it into a hole you have made to access the water.
originally posted by: Spacespider
Just let nature work it out
We should not manipulate and bend the ways of nature
If there is not enough food, people should leave and and stop pooping out babies like a popcorn machine
originally posted by: swanne
a reply to: MerkabaMeditation
Doesn't bamboo require water to grow?
The very thing that's missing in the desert?
There might be a reason why bamboo doesn't grow in deserts on its own in the first place.
originally posted by: redhorse
a reply to: MerkabaMeditation
Bamboo is not a drought resistant plant, quite the opposite. I'm kind of baffled how you missed that. The plant won't grow. It will die.
- How to Grow Bamboo in the Desert, Ruth de Jauregui, Hunker.
Growing bamboo in the desert is not impossible; in general, bamboo requires shelter from freezing temperatures and high winds, as well as a sufficient amount of water. Gardeners are growing bamboo in the deserts of the American southwest, as well as the high deserts of Idaho, Oregon and California.
originally posted by: marg6043
Like somebody said already Bamboo is a tropical weed, it grows in many areas in the word but it needs a lot of water.
Bamboo is not all the same, the best commercial one comes from Asia and China because of perfect conditions, for fancy patio and furniture, the one that grows in the US, Caribbean and south American is a weak version that is not good for commercial use.
Personally I don't think it will work.
- How to Grow Bamboo in the Desert, Ruth de Jauregui, Hunker.
Growing bamboo in the desert is not impossible; in general, bamboo requires shelter from freezing temperatures and high winds, as well as a sufficient amount of water. Gardeners are growing bamboo in the deserts of the American southwest, as well as the high deserts of Idaho, Oregon and California.
originally posted by: marg6043
a reply to: MerkabaMeditation
Even if is possible, some variations of Bamboo is an invasive species, but that if the conditions are favorable.
Now, how about the cost of acclimatizing the bamboo to the are that is be taking over in the desert.
originally posted by: MerkabaMeditation
originally posted by: marg6043
a reply to: MerkabaMeditation
Even if is possible, some variations of Bamboo is an invasive species, but that if the conditions are favorable.
Now, how about the cost of acclimatizing the bamboo to the are that is be taking over in the desert.
True, bamboo is an invasive species - but we're talking about thousands of people's life here, surely those life must matter more than introducing a foreign botany?
There would have to be made an investment to initially farm these forests, but in the end thousands of lifes would be saved and more farmable land would be created between the forest due to the new biome and higher precipitation - so this would be something that the affected countries would earn money on in the long run.
-MM
originally posted by: Chromium51
We could also just import food there too instead of making permanent changes. That would likely be cheaper and quicker to get done than making a bamboo forest.
Just let nature work it out We should not manipulate and bend the ways of nature If there is not enough food, people should leave and and stop pooping out babies like a popcorn machine
A country’s population is stable when TFR is equal to replacement rates. These vary by country but globally work out to around 2.1 children per woman. The reason the replacement rate is slightly higher than 2 is not only do women need to replace themselves and the father but also to factor in children who die before reaching adulthood and women who die before the end of their child bearing years. With that in mind, you can see that many countries in the world (all in dark blue) are now below replacement level including 3 of the 4 BRIC countries (China, Russia and Brazil), all of Europe (except France, Ireland and Turkey) along with Japan, Canada and Australia, among others. This means that without immigration all these countries will see long term population decreases.
originally posted by: galaga
That whole area of the world is complete crap for humans. Sure, some parts of Africa are stunning. But can you really live there?
It's everything there that is wrong. It's like they can't get out of the Stone age.