Deserts

Martial Eagle

AWB Deserts

If we take an overall view of the AWB Region the most obvious and striking feature of the geography is the extent of Deserts, and taking a closer view of the 25 largest Deserts in the World we see that outside of the two Polar Desert Regions we find that the Sahara and Arabian Deserts are by far the two largest Hot Deserts in the world, the top 25 list is completed by two Deserts in Iran, the Dasht e Kavir and the Dasht e Lut. Thus four out of the top 25 largest Deserts in the world fall within the AWB Region.

Further information about the four major deserts within the AWB Region can be found here:-
Sahara Desert
Arabian Desert
Dasht-e Kavir Desert
Dasht-e Lut Desert

Deserts are far from being just monolithic areas of sand dunes, they are complex systems, and to understand more about them as the biggest influence on bird life (and everything else besides) learn more here about deserts.

Deserts are not just static either, there is an ongoing process of desertification often related to Climate Change on the fringes of many Deserts. To some extent, particularly in the Arab Gulf States, where rapid growth of cities and urbanisation has taken place over the last four decades, the significant use of recycled waste water for the watering of public reservations, parks and gardens has counteracted this desertification effect. This is typified by the New water recycling plant in Al Nahda in the Enirate of Dubai.

Also stretching right across northern Africa along the southern edge of the Sahara is The Sahel Region. This is a transition region from the Sahara Desert to the grasslands further south. All the Sahel states have currently got together on a major project called The Great Green Wall, to plant millions of trees across the region to restore the diversity of ecosystems across the sub-Saharan African landscape.

Dedicating itself to the wellbeing of both the varied cultures and wildlife of the Sahara is the Sahara Conservation Fund … where you will discover what amazing kaleidoscopes of colours and highly specialized wildlife that deserts truly are.

Being what it is and where it is, The Sahara Desert is by far the largest single factor affecting all Palearctic Bird Migration Flyways into sub-Sahara Africa, and the maintenance of all suitable staging posts is now of tremendous importance, following many years of decline, and all resources need to be employed wherever it is possible.
Further info about the Sahara Desert can be found here.