Why deserts must not be subjected to greening initiatives

When you think of harsh, barren landscapes devoid of life, deserts are at the top of the list. In India, the Thar Desert is the most famous. However, there are also cold deserts, such as in Ladakh, which have severe winters and very short summers. What rain they receive is in the form of some snow.

However, deserts are not just never-ending dunes of sand. Oases — areas with greenery and small water bodies — are the lifelines of deserts, where mammal, bird, and human activity is concentrated. Deserts also sustain a unique and resilient biodiversity, with lifeforms that can survive extreme weather, sometimes +/- 50°C. Some of these are: