Africa may struggle to extract groundwater, experts say
Africa's newly revealed groundwater may not be easy to tap into because of political and technical challenges, experts warn.
15 May 2012 | EN

Science and Development Network
News, views and information about science, technology and the developing world
Here is a list of the latest articles
Africa's newly revealed groundwater may not be easy to tap into because of political and technical challenges, experts warn.
15 May 2012 | EN
Planet Under Pressure speakers said developing countries should be included in decisions about climate change technology 'fixes'.
An international commission of senior scientists has launched a charter for action on food security for different sectors of society.
Plans to channel more than a billion cubic metres of water each year from the Red to the Dead Sea have been challenged by environmentalists.
23 March 2012 | EN
Computer simulations predict severe water shortages in south India’s Godavari basin, which call for conservation practices.
1 March 2012 | EN
Biodiversity influences how well a dryland ecosystem functions, and therefore how it will respond to climate change, say scientists.
16 January 2012 | EN
Pakistan should turn to agroforestry to stem its shrinking forest cover, say experts.
16 December 2011 | EN
Scientists may have discovered a way of unlocking Egypt's huge underwater aquifer, but critics question the feasibility of the project.
African and Latin American scientists are calling for drylands, which are home to two billion people, to be a key part of the Rio+20 agenda.
An East African ICT scheme that channels agricultural information to villages has won a US$1 million award.
A collaboration between researchers and breweries to boost sorghum production in East Africa could help farmers cope with drought.
Kenyan farmers who lost cattle in the Horn of Africa drought may be compensated through an insurance scheme.
Senegal has started its fourth year of planting, following the signing of an MoU to disseminate strategies between countries.
Pakistan is considering several water management techniques to head off a water crisis caused by wastage and warming.
1 August 2011 | EN
A new satellite observation centre will provide useful information to Namibian farmers.
Despite the publicity droughts get, there is still a lack of data to monitor and model the risks they pose worldwide, says a UN report.
4 July 2011 | EN
The Global Dry Land Alliance, initiated by Qatar, will foster research collaboration among arid nations.
The Desertec Industrial Initiative should make more effort to consult locals and boost science in the region, say critics.
Malaria-transmitting Anopheles mosquitoes depend on natural sugars for survival — and this could be exploited to trap them.
31 March 2011 | EN
The agave plant genus, famous for its use in tequila and fibre production, could be a promising source of biofuel for arid regions, say experts.