Once more about the forest in the desert
Several days ago, I wrote a post entitled “Forest in the desert”, in which I spoke negatively about the project of planting trees around Ashgabat that has been implemented for years by the Turkmen authorities. My post was criticized by many commentators and I was accused of constant “complaining and bragging”.
So I decided to raise this issue once again. First, let me say a few words to the permanent commentator Eziz Turkmen: if you don’t like critical articles about the government, then I would recommend you reading the turkmenistan.gov.tm or turkmenistan.ru websites, where you will not find a trace of critique. Blogging and journalism in general only makes sense if you have a critical attitude towards the surrounding reality.
Secondly, I sustain my critical assessment of the project. Not because I am against planting trees, but because I think that when people start improving the nature it usually turns against them. The past century, especially the ideas of Soviet authorities, bring too many examples in support of this point. It is quite a different thing when a botanical garden or a park which occupies small area is created in a city. But to plant a forest around a city of several hundred thousand inhabitants? And all that in a country and region which suffers of water shortage.
Anyway, you can see how the project is realized and where funds for the „Green Belt” come from reading an article published recently by the Turkmenistan Chronicles. Let me just quote a few excerpts:
Thousands of hectares of land around the capital are covered with artificial vegetation. Moreover, only a few are aware of the fact that millions of manats are literally embedded in the ground annually. The matter is that the lack of constant irrigation caused by the water deficit result in mortality of most seedlings. Yet, new trees and shrubs are planted to replace them.
Where are the funds taken from? The money for seedlings and gardening expenses are collected from the state employees. Students are also required to contribute 150 thousand manats each to develop the Ashgabat’s green belt.
The green belt program has been in operation for many years. Yet, mostly freshly planted trees and shrubs grow around the capital’s green area. They immediately dry out to be replaced by new plants. I call this territory a field of wonders … in this country.
on April 22nd, 2008 at 3:21 am
Dear maciula,
Let me make some points clear so that we do not have a false ground for our future discussions;
1. Journalism is not about criticism, its about being objective. Its about saying good to good & bad to bad. In your comments i always see the negative & i never see any positives. Is this country bad in every way ? Isnt there anything good about it thats worth discussing ?
2. In the article above there is one correct point that you note; the way these trees are being planted is wrong. Students have to pay from their scholarships, goverment officials have to sacrifice their only day off (sunday) for planting trees…etc. But, just because the way its done is wrong, you cannot criticise the whole project. Nobody in the world can provide any scientific evidance that planting trees is bad, no matter where (desert, sea, ice…etc).
3. Thanks for pointing me out, it means i have been outstanding
on April 23rd, 2008 at 4:30 am
Eziz,
You are wrong on point #2. There is ample scientific evidence that planting trees in the wrong place is bad. In fact, there was a scientific article published on this very subject on 15 March 2008 in the journal, Environmental Science & Technology (vol. 46 no. 2, pp 1826-1831). One of the findings of the paper was that only 15% of afforestation (trees planted in an attempt to thwart desertification) is successful. The main reason that 85% of afforestation fails (i.e. trees die) is because of a lack of water. In fact, the study went on to discuss how after these trees die (after needlessly consuming water that could have been used for drinking or agriculture), they actually increase topsoil erosion. In summary, not only is it a waste of time, energy, and water to attempt afforestation but it is also detrimental to the local ecology and environment.
So, contrary to your proclamations, there is ample evidence to support maciula’s concerns regarding tree planting around Ashgabat.