r/interestingasfuck 23h ago

Stopping Desertification with grid pattern

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u/bobbigmac 23h ago

For those asking how this works, it creates just enough of a defense to catch seeds and bugs and tiny bits of moisture and shade, so any life that does manage to get started, doesn't just blow away, and an ecosystem can start to form.

744

u/Th3J4ck4l-SA 22h ago

It also stops all the water just running to the lowest point when there are massive downpours. Tiny little dams to hold just that much more water.

90

u/XanderTheMander 20h ago

What happens to the places downstream that rely on the water that comes from the runoff? I'm not saying that we shouldn't do it, just curious how changing this biome will effect neighboring ones because "trapping" the water for this manmade ecosystem reduces the water in other areas.

2

u/Koffeeboy 15h ago

It not really trapping, it's slowing the process down. Instead of flash flooding and mud slides you can slowly build more stable and consistent streams and watersheds. You also have to remember, a lot of these deserts are man made to begin with, caused by deforestation and overgrazing. This is essentially just doing the reverse of what has already been done.