EU parliament hearing shows current threat from desertification

Parliament has been told that Barcelona’s drasticdecision to ship in water supplies to combat Spain’s worst watershortage in 60 years highlights the impact ofdesertification.

The one-day hearing in parliament on Thursday brought togetherexperts on climate change, sustainability and land management andwas organized by Scottish MEP Struan Stevenson.

The Tory deputy said, “Climate change is top of the politicalagenda right now and this conference will add significantly to ourknowledge and expertise on the issues involved.

“It is particularly relevant in the week that 23 million litres ofwater were delivered by ship to Barcelona - the first of many suchshipments - that we are holding this conference.

“Drought and water shortage is not only a problem that affectscountries outside the EU. It is a problem for Europe aswell.”

He says the current “food security crisis” must be examined withenvironmental changes such as desertification in mind.

“The rapidly increasing food prices will continue to soar if we donot focus our attention on sustainable land management and soilprotection.”

Stevenson concluded by calling for an international conference onthe problems associated with trans-border rivers, focusing on theIrtysh and the Illy in Kazakhstan “as an example of where thingscan go badly wrong.”

He added, “Water is an increasingly scarce resource and one thatmust be used fairly and sustainably.

“Let us learn from the lessons of the Aral Sea and the appallingconsequences of desertification that was caused in that region bythe injudicious and unsustainable utilisation of water.

“Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

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