In an article outlining the top 10 strategies adopted by Israel to combat desertification, a unique type of agroforestry is explained.

The Runoff Agroforestry System is based on the ancient floodwater collection system adopted by the Nabateans, who survived in the heart of the Negev Desert more than 2,000 years ago.

Israel 21C explains how the Nabateans redirected floodwaters to dike-surrounded plots or hand-dug pits where trees or shrubs were planted. Improving on this ancient practice, today leguminous species are planted that absorb nitrogen from the air and transfer it to the soil; improving soil fertility and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the system.

Professor Pedro Berliner, who pioneered the system, has taught the practice to farmers in Kenya, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, India, and Mexico.

Other strategies discussed in the article include the use of drought-tolerant crops such as the argan tree which is prized for its oil and afforestation to reverse desertification using trees that grow well in the desert and can survive on winter runoff alone.

Israel has an impressive record when it comes to turning barren desert into useful and arable land. With climate change expected to bring fiercer droughts and greater flooding, the country will need continued research and innovations such as those discussed in the article if it is to successfully adapt.

Read the full story: Top 10 ways Israel fights desertification

Read more about Runoff Agroforestry Systems: Pushing back the desert with ancient wisdom