The Onward March of Deserts

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 10, 13 January 1936, Page 2

The Onward March of Deserts

How fertile pastures arc gradually becoming barren deserts was among tho topics discussed by the British Association at Norwich, says the “Daily Mail.” Is the eartlf drying up? was the question ■ asked .by Professor . E. B. Stubbing, of Edinburgh, in a paper read before members of the Geographical Section in which he referred to the conversion of rich and fertile land into desert.

Extensive tracts in Libya, an Eastern extension of the Sahara, had, in the time of the Pharaohs, a numerous population, hc said.. In the time of Cenghiz Khan, tho Gobi desert was covered with sufficient vegetation to afford pasture to innumerable horses.

Enormous’ areas of land had become sterile within the past 100 years or less in Australia, the United States, and China. The ruthless destruction of the forests and annual burning were among the chief causes. Professor Btebbing said that during recent investigations in the West African Colonies and across the Sahara, he found that the Sahara Desert, more than 2000 miles in width from north to south, was advancing south. During the last three centuries the desert had advanced some 170 miles and now threatened Northern Nigeria and the Drench Niger Uolonv.