Green Hope UAE members had spent hours during the last weekend with Goumbook to collect pods and extract seeds of the Ghaf tree . This was our buildup activity towards celebrating the World Day to Combat Desertification.

It was reported in 7DAYS as below :

http://www.7daysindubai.com/UAE-groups-help-save-ghaf-trees-Combat/story-19300102-detail/story.html

7DAYS reported " As part of the campaign to preserve the tree, youngsters from environmental group Green Hope spent the weekend collecting ghaf seeds for the ?Give a Ghaf? campaign organised by Gumbook".

This afternoon ,to commemorate the World Day to Combat Desertification,  at a solemn ceremony in Safa Park , under the shade of an imposing Ghaf tree , Green Hope UAE  members signed a pledge to committing to plant trees during the planting season in October . The pledge letter was handed over to the Goumbook team. Given the importance of the occasion , several Green Hope UAE members were present to show solidarity with the cause.

Desertification is a huge problem facing the world today .Several million hectares of arable land are lost or degraded every year . To feed the 7 billion people of this planet the pressure on arable land is enormous . Hence , combatting desertification through planting pledges such as these takes on added significance.