Egypt is growing forests in the desert. Here’s why

Egypt has managed to grow a huge 200-hectare forest in the middle of its desert, and has pledged to continue planting trees in an effort to fight climate change.

Egypt managed to grow trees in its arid desert landscape using wastewater, which would normally be thrown out. The desert forests are part of the country’s plans to preserve the environment, reduce pollution and make use of its natural water resources.

The Serapium Forest project was unveiled in 1998, and was heralded a huge success in 2014.

Now, several more African countries have followed suit including Nigeria, Senegal and Djibouti. The tree-planting project would create a ‘great green wall’ that would stretch more than 8,000 kilometres over North East Africa. It is thought the new forest will extend over 100 million hectares.

The real genius of the plan is that it makes use of treated sewage water, effectively recycling it to create new forests.

Of course, those new trees lead to the introduction of an entirely new ecosystem – attracting more animal and plant life, helping clean the air, reducing the temperature and combatting desertification.

That wastewater is treated with micro-organisms, and is high in nitrogen and phosphorus. The nutrient rich water is then piped around the forest and stored underground. According to researchers, that water has led to rapid forest growth (more than four times faster than forests in Europe, where the weather is more favorable).

It is thought that the forest program could be extended in parts of the Middle East, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

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