Hey everyone! I'm reaching out because I live on a small island that's super dry for most of the year. We experience temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius for six months, and even in winter, it rarely drops below 10. Rainfall is scant, with only about two months when it actually rains. This leaves the land mostly barren except for some mountains and a few shrubs.
I'm really not a fan of this dry environment and I'm wondering if there's any feasible way to irrigate the land or improve greenery. I don't have any political influence, but I'd like to develop a plan to present to local authorities to help make our island more livable. I'd appreciate any thoughts or advice you all might have!
3 Answers
Planting native plants that are already adapted to your climate could be a great way to start. They require less water and can help restore some balance to the ecosystem. You might consider introducing native trees or shrubs that thrive in your conditions.
You might want to look into desert permaculture and dryland farming techniques. These concepts focus on using methods that work with the natural environment to create sustainable systems. You can also search for ideas on "greening the desert" to see successful projects that have worked in similar areas.
There was a successful project on one of the Hawaiian islands where they planted pines and evergreen trees at higher elevations. This helped create a microclimate that encouraged more rainfall in the area. Maybe something similar could work for you!
So just focus on native trees and shrubs? That sounds like an easy start!