Sabia que a perda de floresta e degradação do solo estão diretamente ligadas ao avanço da desertificação e ao agravamento da seca? 
No Dia da Desertificação e da Seca destacamos o papel do Observatório Europeu da Desflorestação e Degradação da Floresta, uma plataforma que cruza dados de satélite e inteligência artificial para monitorizar alterações na cobertura florestal e apoiar estratégias de prevenção, gestão e conservação do território. 
Compreender estas mudanças é essencial para proteger ecossistemas e aumentar a resiliência das florestas face às alterações climáticas.
Saiba em que consiste e como funciona a plataforma em: https://florestas.pt/.../criado-observatorio-europeu-da.../
Florestas.pt 17/6/2026
Desertificação Mundial
Daily Pulse Feed 22/6/2026
A new United Nations report warns that the world is no longer facing just a temporary water crisis; it has entered what experts call “global water bankruptcy.” In simple terms, this means many water systems around the world have been pushed so far that they may never fully recover to the way they once were.
For years, people spoke about a “water crisis” as if it were a serious problem that could eventually be fixed and return to normal. But according to the report, that “normal” is disappearing in many places. Rivers, lakes, wetlands, and underground water sources are being overused, polluted, and damaged faster than nature can restore them. UN experts say this is not just a short-term emergency anymore it is becoming a long-term breakdown of water systems.
Kaveh Madani, director of the UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health, explained that the world has crossed into a new stage. He said many regions are now facing a situation where water supplies cannot realistically return to their old levels. In other words, the damage has gone beyond a temporary shortage and become something much deeper.
The report uses the term “water bankruptcy” for two reasons. The first is insolvency when people take out and pollute more water than nature can safely replace. The second is irreversibility when important parts of the natural water system, such as wetlands and lakes, are damaged so badly that restoring them to their original state may no longer be possible.
The report says the world is quickly draining its natural “water savings account.” More than half of the world’s large lakes have shrunk since the early 1990s. Around 35% of natural wetlands have disappeared since 1970. These are serious losses because lakes, rivers, and wetlands help store water, support wildlife, protect communities, and keep ecosystems balanced.
The human impact is already huge. Nearly three-quarters of the world’s population live in countries considered water-insecure or critically water-insecure. Around 4 billion people face severe water scarcity for at least one month every year. Droughts alone are estimated to cause around $307 billion in losses annually.
The burden is not shared equally. Small farmers, Indigenous communities, low-income families in cities, women, and young people are often hit the hardest. At the same time, the benefits of overusing water often go to more powerful groups and industries.
Still, the report says this does not mean hope is lost. It compares water bankruptcy to financial bankruptcy: when someone goes bankrupt, it does not mean everything is over it means a serious recovery plan is needed. The same is true for water. Experts say the world must stop treating water problems as short-term emergencies and instead start protecting what remains, cutting waste, and rebuilding damaged systems based on today’s reality, not the past.
The warning is clear: the world cannot keep acting as if water shortages are temporary. If nothing changes, ecological damage, economic losses, and social tensions will only grow.
Sem comentários:
Enviar um comentário