Greening the Desert
The Jordan Valley was once renowned for its lushness and now one man is returning it to its former glory.
For centuries the Jordan Valley was renowned for being one of the most lush and productive lands in the world. But years of over-grazing and drought have left it arid and with high salinity levels.
To reverse this decline Australian permaculture expert Geoff Lawton has embarked on an ambitious project that he calls ‘Greening the Desert’.
Using agricultural mulch and special irrigation canals, he is desalinating 3,000 square metres of land, restoring the soil’s fertility and turning the Jordanian desert into an oasis. Lawton is also creating a demonstration site where he passes on his wisdom to people from as far afield as Afghanistan, Peru and Ghana.