JEDDAH, 18 September 2003 -— The first Saudi-Japan workshop, Improvement of the Desert Environment, was convened in a two-day workshop here yesterday. The aim is to increase cooperation between Japan and Saudi Arabia in greening the desert. Sponsored by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd of Japan, and Bushnak Water Group of Saudi Arabia, the workshop was attended by distinguished scientists from Japan and Saudi Arabia.
In his opening speech, Dr. Adil Bushnak, chairman of Bushnak Water Group, said: “World class applied knowledge should be developed through increased cooperation with world centers of knowledge and with active participation and investment by the private sector.”
He went on to say, “I would like to share with you a personal dream which is to see the Makkah region as a world center of knowledge and technology for prospering in a desert environment. I believe such a dream is feasible with more cooperation between King Abdul Aziz University and the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment, with the support of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology and other Saudi Universities.”
Dr. Shinobu Inanaga, Director of Arid Land Research Center at Tottori University in Japan, gave a presentation titled, “Greening Arid Land.” According to Dr. Inanaga, “the objective of the program is to develop new technologies aimed at establishing a network of oases based on a water circulating system.” In his presentation he discussed different types of regional development. “The objectives include biological production by aquaculture and hydroponics using properly treated seawater, waste water, and saline underground water, creation of gardens and parks as a living space by effective use of water resources, establishment of greening methodology using organic materials for low input and low human management and savanization by efficient use of harvested water derived from rainfalls and fogs in mountainous areas.”
Dr. Hussein Elgizouli Osman, professor at the Faculty of Meteorology, Environment and Arid Land Agriculture, King Abdul Aziz University, spoke of the practical approaches to desertification and desert greening. He spoke about controlling desertification, the benefits of greening, factors limiting greening programs, water conservation and the role of national and international institutes and research centers. He said: “We need dedicated research teams in the field. We have to go to the field if we are to feed the people. They don’t need to hear about the science and technology of planting, they just need the plants to grow.”
Dr. Bushnak told those attending, “This is not intended to be a scientific conference. We are trying to utilize the Japanese interest in sharing knowledge and facts so we can move forward.”
