JAIPUR: The quick disappearance of sand dunes in western Rajasthan or shedding of the normal route to human actions have prompted the specialists to research its response on the ecosystem.
Sand dunes have decreased by 16 percent between 1970 and 2013, stated PC Moharana, chief scientist at natural resource department, Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), that has extensively examined the varying ecological conditions in the desert areas.
He explained that the region below the habitat has turned into the bare land into a cropped region with stabilisation of sand dunes as much as 10,000 years old although it is going to make to get a negative effect on the unhabituated region — fauna and flora.
“Indiscriminate farm of trees from different distinct contours — checkerboard and flat — to control the motion of waters are deterring the creation of sand dunes in most regions apart from individual habitats.
Overgrazing by livestock is now producing an effect on fauna and flora,” explained Moharana.
He explained sand dunes vegetation, which is necessary for fauna and additionally preserves the food chain created thousands of years back.
“It behaved just like a protective covering by stabilising the effects of powerful winds and sandstorms.
In the lack of sand dunes, winds hit the urban area.
Additionally, studies are underway to discover whether the speed at which the irrigated soil is eating from the desert distance could contribute to growth of sand from urban areas,” said Rakesh Goyal, chief scientist in water and soil conservation section, CAZRI.
Even the CAZRI has introduced a couple measures to renew the sand dunes from introducing fencing, planting marijuana slides, micro windbreaks in 4 lakh hectares in areas like Barmer, Bikaner, Churu, Jaisalmer and Jodhpur.
“These steps have decreased the speed speed and assisted in minimising the effects of sand storms from the habitat,” explained Moharana.