Desertification causes extreme planting circumstances

There are circumstances where with the present methods, planting of any plant is very difficult.
In these areas, the Groasis waterboxx can provide additional postive functions:

  • on difficult to reach rocks and mountains - where it is difficult to remove the normal polypropylene waterboxx after 1 year;
  • on walking sand dunes in deserts where the waterboxx will probably be covered by sand;
  • in burned woods where there is no longer any humus to 'fix' water and nutrients;
  • on salted and damaged dunes at the seaside where the waterboxx might be covered while helping to restore the plantation on them.

For these extreme circumstsances, AquaPro has developed a waterboxx made of biopolymer (biodegradable).

Rocks

On the page trees and shrubs grow on rocks,  we clearly explain how the technique of planting on rocks with the Groasis waterboxx works. Here are some photos that prove that trees and shrubs can grow on rocks.  On difficult to reach slopes, it is easier to leave the box than to take it away after 1 year.  With the biopolymer box, no damage will be done to the environment as it takes over the function of humus and helps the tree start growing.  Under these circumstances, instead of using saplings in plugs, we advise using 2 or even 3 seeds per box, so that the strong radicle is able to optimally break the rock surface and enter it.

Walking sand dunes in deserts

Planting on walking sand dunes in deserts is another challenge.  At present, this is done with palm leaves which create less wind, which causes the sand to settle.  In soil, Tamarix stems are planted and given some water.  After a while, a small part of the stems starts growing. To learn about these current and successful techniques, look at the images how walking dunes are planted in the Sahara desert in Morocco. With the Groasis waterboxx, planting results in order to 'fix' (settle and correct) walking dunes will approach 100%!

In order to do more tests in these extreme circumstances, AquaPro cooperates with two Universities in Morocco: University Mohammed I at Oujda Morocco with Professor Aatika Mihamou, and the Institute Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II in Agadir Morocco with the professors Cherif Harrouni and Abdellatif El Fadl (right and left of Pieter Hoff).  In Nairobi, Kenya, Pieter Hoff visited the Green Belt Movement and met Jasper Kirika to organize future projects.

Burned woods

Burned woods are very difficult to replant not only because of the burnt trees, but also because the humus is often burnt and lost. With the biopolymer waterboxx, nutrients will be available to the newly planted tree once the box starts to degrade.  In this way, the box takes over the function of the missing humus.  Look at the images of burned trees aside the road between Sacramento and Reno in the USA to see the devastating effect of burned woods.  These pictures were taken when I was visiting the University of California (UC) Davis, where I had a meeting with Professor Louise Ferguson, one of the most well-known fruit tree specialists in the world.  I also visited the Desert Research Institute in Reno, NV where I had a meeting with Professor Paul Verburg.

Salted dunes at the seaside

It is very difficult to plant trees in salted dunes.  Salted sand damages early root development.  With the biopolymer waterboxx, this problem is solved and damaged dunes can be replanted without problems.  Look at the images of the seaside to find how difficult it is to plant salted dunes.  

salt
Many trees are very tolerant to salted water (tree on beach in Muscat Oman)

Conclusion

The waterboxx increases planting success under many difficult circumstances.  And under extreme circumstances, the biopolymer waterboxx offers even more possibilities to create successful planting results.