New Forests in the Desert

Desertification is a major problem for Egypt where 96% of the land is desert. Desertification happens when land that was once fertile becomes desert as a result of unsustainable agricultural practices or long-lasting drought. Bringing back vegetation can reverse this process, and that is the goal of an ambitious Egyptian program. Just 15 km west of the Suez Canal you can see a bountiful forest of eucalyptus, teak, and mahogany trees rising from the sands of the Sahara. This is the Serapium Forest - a shining example of the country’s ambitious plan to deal with desertification in a way that is sustainable. 
The program has 36 large tracts of land where commercial forests are being created using only wastewater. Serapium is the model for how they all will operate. It is located near the city of Ismailia, which produces millions of tons of sewage water every year. This waste water is diverted to the forest where it undergoes a purification process. A system of pipes then pumps the treated wastewater throughout the forest. Egyptian scientists say that this system has the potential to turn 650,000 hectares of desert into commercial forests.