turning the desert green can also have serious engineering implications. there are some very well know structures here in qatar whose foundations are inadequate and failing due to un-anticipated high groundwater levels. the groundwater level has been raised by a matter of metres per year by huge over-irrigation of a nearby 'green zone'. there will be massive expenditure to resolve the situation
in central tunisia in the very north of the sahara they have the opposite problem. over-pumping of the groundwater to support the growing tourism industry and increased date plantations has led the groundwater level to fall below the reach of the natural palm trees in th area. as you drive into the region all you can see are dead palm trees as far as the eye can see....
Brit, it's a foot-in-the-mouth moment for me. I've heard many people say that the taking down of the hill had caused the water table to collapse. I moved schools soon after and although I heard that they still face water shortages, I have not had an opportunity to study the problem in detail (which I would have had I stayed there for a few more months than I did).
So when i put my argument forward, I guess it was not the most accurate information. I searched the internet and cannot find a good resource to support my statement.
hence, I apologise for the earlier misguided statement, but will let it stay because otherwise the readers who come later would not understand what I was apologising for.
Once again, sorry for making an argument I could not support with facts. have a good day!
"Some things cannot be left that way. The population sometimes demands comfort, change and progress."
Brit, my argument is they do this with only a short term vision. They do not realise that it will indeed be harmful in the long run.
Coming back to my old school, within a few months after the hill was levelled, the water table in the area went down significantly. Within a matter of months, the school went from being self-sufficient in water to having to rely on tanker lorries for it. They suffer from the problem to this day.
desert life out there that is being encroached on and driven off...
Has anyone ever heard of the "Borg"....well, too many places are being "Borged" and humankind, on this planet, is already living beyond its means. One day the pond is 1/2 full, and the next day its gone. Our footprint is already 1 1?3 the planet.
It always happens....India, China, and the rest,,,something will happen...a virus, a bacteria,,,,poof!
The water used for irrigation in this part of the world is coming from Treated sewage effluent, so basically it is a very good eco friendly way of using this water rather than just dumping it in the sea.
For my part I am paying special attention to detail in planning of the Roads and Infrastructure on my projects. I have designed what I believe to be the first integrated footpath and cycle lane in Qatar within a Community Area?
Every day I pass my house, I see these diggers parked on the roadside.
My school was built at the foot of a hill. And then the school authorities (which owned most of the land there) decided the school was not visible from some places and decided to do away with the hill. And these monsters dug up the entire hill within three months. I live in horror of those memories to this day.
Whenever I see these things parked or working on the roadside, I'm transported back to the old days. I hate these monsters. There are some things in nature that should not be messed with.
I agree with Tall and Gypsy, deserts are deserts for a reason. It's better left that way. But then again, I guess, greed and money goes before the fall.
I remember reading an article about the Golf Course in Dubai. The amount of water needed to irrigate is astronomical. The Dubai government heavily subsidises the costs because it generates publicity..
UkEngQatar: You Plonker.. Now we'll be getting run over by people on Bicycles..
That was my point Brit. Deserts aren't supposed to be green, and I'm wondering if anyone has stopped to think about the long term ecological effect this might have.
It is not to difficult to turn the desert green. Maintaining it is the real hard work. Usually authorities don't factor in the long term maintenance costs and before long decay sets in..
Surprisingly there are quite a few environmental programs going on, they just aren't advertised for some reason. I question the value of turning the desert "green" though.
Doha is expanding, but with proper planning and care the eco system can aso be improved , rather than degraded.
Bad Example from Saudi - Saudi wanted to becom self suficient ad even an exporter of wheat. special farms were "created" in the desert. Saudi becam self ufficient in wheat. Problem: The water used to irrigate the soil depleted the water table severely causing long term supply problms.
Hmm, the land that is being built on here is not the most fertile, nor is it clear cutting away viable resources. Only issue would be emissions from the equipment. Building here is actually more positive than negative. Its creating jobs and also bringing more foreign investment which in turn will demand a higher grade of eco-friendly consumption.
too late to dwell on that anymore, nature has been exploited ages ago. Im sure mom nature is already awake and just taking time with her chai/gawah before starting work
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turning the desert green can also have serious engineering implications. there are some very well know structures here in qatar whose foundations are inadequate and failing due to un-anticipated high groundwater levels. the groundwater level has been raised by a matter of metres per year by huge over-irrigation of a nearby 'green zone'. there will be massive expenditure to resolve the situation
in central tunisia in the very north of the sahara they have the opposite problem. over-pumping of the groundwater to support the growing tourism industry and increased date plantations has led the groundwater level to fall below the reach of the natural palm trees in th area. as you drive into the region all you can see are dead palm trees as far as the eye can see....
No need to apologize.. I was just curious..:O)
Anyway, you are correct. sometimes we o the municipality take on projects without realising the side effects.
For example, in the USA, migration to coastal wetlands has meant that vital wetlands have ben lost.
This has a knock on effet leading to dying of plants and imbalance of the eco system.
Brit, it's a foot-in-the-mouth moment for me. I've heard many people say that the taking down of the hill had caused the water table to collapse. I moved schools soon after and although I heard that they still face water shortages, I have not had an opportunity to study the problem in detail (which I would have had I stayed there for a few more months than I did).
So when i put my argument forward, I guess it was not the most accurate information. I searched the internet and cannot find a good resource to support my statement.
hence, I apologise for the earlier misguided statement, but will let it stay because otherwise the readers who come later would not understand what I was apologising for.
Once again, sorry for making an argument I could not support with facts. have a good day!
I agree. Not enough thought.
I am curious.. What is the link between the hill and the water table ?
"Some things cannot be left that way. The population sometimes demands comfort, change and progress."
Brit, my argument is they do this with only a short term vision. They do not realise that it will indeed be harmful in the long run.
Coming back to my old school, within a few months after the hill was levelled, the water table in the area went down significantly. Within a matter of months, the school went from being self-sufficient in water to having to rely on tanker lorries for it. They suffer from the problem to this day.
The Borg is someting totally different.. Don't get me started on Seven of Nine :)
desert life out there that is being encroached on and driven off...
Has anyone ever heard of the "Borg"....well, too many places are being "Borged" and humankind, on this planet, is already living beyond its means. One day the pond is 1/2 full, and the next day its gone. Our footprint is already 1 1?3 the planet.
It always happens....India, China, and the rest,,,something will happen...a virus, a bacteria,,,,poof!
The water used for irrigation in this part of the world is coming from Treated sewage effluent, so basically it is a very good eco friendly way of using this water rather than just dumping it in the sea.
For my part I am paying special attention to detail in planning of the Roads and Infrastructure on my projects. I have designed what I believe to be the first integrated footpath and cycle lane in Qatar within a Community Area?
-----------------
HE WHO DARES WINS
Some things cannot be left that way. The population sometimes demands comfort, change and progress.
Remember in some parts of the world, green areas are becoming deserts and the population is having to move.,
Every day I pass my house, I see these diggers parked on the roadside.
My school was built at the foot of a hill. And then the school authorities (which owned most of the land there) decided the school was not visible from some places and decided to do away with the hill. And these monsters dug up the entire hill within three months. I live in horror of those memories to this day.
Whenever I see these things parked or working on the roadside, I'm transported back to the old days. I hate these monsters. There are some things in nature that should not be messed with.
I agree with Tall and Gypsy, deserts are deserts for a reason. It's better left that way. But then again, I guess, greed and money goes before the fall.
I remember reading an article about the Golf Course in Dubai. The amount of water needed to irrigate is astronomical. The Dubai government heavily subsidises the costs because it generates publicity..
UkEngQatar: You Plonker.. Now we'll be getting run over by people on Bicycles..
Exactly my point !troll
Yes, I think they've taken some of the desert there.
Of course, on the flip side is the problem of desertification, where mainly human activities (and some natural) are causing deserts to expand.
Then a question arise,
sea is a sea for a reason.Why people are dumping sand and stuffs in to it and making islands like pearl qatar etc?
That is called 'development' or 'technology'
For India and Egypt the main goal is crops ..
I suppose Dubai is doing it more for tourism or other commercial reasons..
Just a thought.. I have never been to Nevada, but is there similar exercises say around Las Vegas ???
but why? The desert is a desert for a reason. Why not leave it as it's supposed to be?
It doesn't have to be negative.. It just needs careful planning and thougt.
Egypt and UAE are already developing projects to teun the desert green.
India is working on a similar program for Rajistan.
...and the long term ecological effects of building a man made island
yes, i too agree with Gypsy's point.Why deserts should be green?
Simple.. People crave something not readily available to them.
They desire the green hills of darlington, rather than the drab and harsh desert..
That was my point Brit. Deserts aren't supposed to be green, and I'm wondering if anyone has stopped to think about the long term ecological effect this might have.
I think Gypsy's point was "why" turn the desert green in the first place.
It is not to difficult to turn the desert green. Maintaining it is the real hard work. Usually authorities don't factor in the long term maintenance costs and before long decay sets in..
Well sadly there's a lot of ignorance here.
I'm aware of a few, but can see a lot more that don't appear to be giving any consideration. That's just my view though.
Surprisingly there are quite a few environmental programs going on, they just aren't advertised for some reason. I question the value of turning the desert "green" though.
"but with proper planning and care the eco system can aso be improved"
and is that happening in Doha?
Nice pic Greeker.
You have to forgive, if you want to manifest something better!
Nice click,as usual.
Excellent post and question as usual.
Doha is expanding, but with proper planning and care the eco system can aso be improved , rather than degraded.
Bad Example from Saudi - Saudi wanted to becom self suficient ad even an exporter of wheat. special farms were "created" in the desert. Saudi becam self ufficient in wheat. Problem: The water used to irrigate the soil depleted the water table severely causing long term supply problms.
Hmm, the land that is being built on here is not the most fertile, nor is it clear cutting away viable resources. Only issue would be emissions from the equipment. Building here is actually more positive than negative. Its creating jobs and also bringing more foreign investment which in turn will demand a higher grade of eco-friendly consumption.
____________________________________________________
"Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock - Will Rogers"
What Price?
...uumm....huh...ummm...QR 3,000 for a 2 bedroom appartment :)
There are 15,000 appartments vacant..and....they are making another 15,000 -> Heart of Doha....I m loving it here!
same cry here.......but its too difficult to do battles with the high and mightys of this world
I like the Gawah part, hehe.
But really, it's never too late. And just because the exploitation has been going on for long does not mean it has to continue.
But well, I guess development should go on. But I shudder at the thought of Mom nature hitting back in equal intensity...
too late to dwell on that anymore, nature has been exploited ages ago. Im sure mom nature is already awake and just taking time with her chai/gawah before starting work