Managing Aridity

Question 1

what Proportion of rain in the UAE percolates to groundwater aquifers?

Answer 1

10-14% of which 3% is freshwater

Question 2

when does the UAE plan to be fully water secure?

Answer 2

2036

Question 3

Desalination plant in Dubai

Answer 3

Jebel Ali Desalination Plant, Produces 140 million gallons of water per day, 42% of drinking water
+largest gas fired power station in world

Question 4

What proportion of UAE’s GDP comes from oil and gas?

Answer 4

30%

Question 5

What other impact does Jebel Ali have

Answer 5

Brine released during waste process, damages ecosystem

Question 6

What is the driest region in Europe?

Answer 6

Almeria, Spain, <250 mm per year

Question 7

What techniques are common in Almeria?

Answer 7

“Polytunnels”, computerised irrigation, imported good soil

Question 8

agricultural output of Almeria

Answer 8

grows 45% of English Tomatoes

Question 9

Population growth in Almeria?

Answer 9

375,000 in 1980 to 635,000 in 2010

Question 10

How much of Spain at risk of Desertification?

Answer 10

37%, 15% at high risk

Question 11

problem with Polytunnels?

Answer 11

have to be replaced every year, plastic either burned or left

Question 12

How many plant and animal species lost in UAE 1960-2000?

Answer 12

800 plants, 48 animals

Question 13

How has UAE gov responded to loss of ecosystems?

Answer 13

created Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, in 2003,
Protects 4.7% of untouched desert
+ useful for ecotourism

Question 14

Arabian Oryx population

Answer 14

1990s, near extinction,
2020s, over 800 in DDCR, 88 births in 2019

Question 15

Eden Foundation

Answer 15

Swedish Based Charity, active in Niger,
Builds stone Bund Contours
Direct seeding
Education initiatives

Question 16

Eden foundation effects

Answer 16

helped 70,000, (but Sahel region has 135 million)
Millet yields rose by 42%

Question 17

Spanish Hydroponics effectiveness?

Answer 17

takes only 25 litres to grow 1kg of lettuce, typically, 250 litres needed

Question 18

Three-North Shelter Forest Programme

Answer 18

started 1978 expected to finish in 2050,
88 million acres of forest,
4,828 km long

Question 19

How much of China was desert in 2024

Answer 19

26.8% down from 29.7% in 2000

Question 20

what proportion of china is forested?

Answer 20

25% in 2024 up from 10% in 1949

Question 21

one problem with the three north shelter forest programme?

Answer 21

creating a monoculture of Poplar trees, 1 billion died in Ningxia in 2000 to one disease outbreak

Question 22

HDI of UAE

Answer 22

0.937, 17th

Question 23

HDI of spain

Answer 23

0.911, 27th

Question 24

HDI of Niger

Answer 24

0.394, 189th

Question 25

HDI of China

Answer 25

0.797, 78th