Every year on 12 July, the world observes the International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms. This day reminds us that sand and dust storms are not only natural events; they are also becoming more common and more severe because of human activities and climate change. They affect millions of people globally, damaging our health, our nature, our agriculture, and our local economies.

This day is important because it encourages us as a global community to work together to protect land, restore nature, and reduce the conditions that make these storms worse. It also reminds us that caring for our environment today helps create a healthier future for everyone.

Sand and dust storms happen when strong winds lift loose sand and soil into the air. They mostly occur in dry and semi-dry regions where the ground has little vegetation to hold the soil in place. The largest sources of dust are the Sahara Desert in North Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, Central Asia, northern China, and Mongolia.

NASA states that every year, trade winds carry roughly 27 to 28 million tons of dust from the ⁠Sahara Desert 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to South America! This natural phenomenon acts as a critical fertilizer, depositing phosphorus into the Amazon basin to sustain the forest’s vibrant ecosystem.

A sand storm emerging from the west coast of North Africa.

While these storms are natural, human activities often make them much worse. Cutting down forests, overgrazing by livestock, poor farming practices, mining, and using too much water can leave the soil dry and exposed. Climate change also increases droughts and heat, creating even more dry land where dust can easily be blown into the air.

The effects of sand and dust storms can be serious. Tiny dust particles can enter our lungs and cause breathing problems such as asthma and other respiratory diseases. The storms reduce visibility, making travel dangerous on roads and in the air. Farmers can lose valuable crops when dust buries young plants or strips away fertile topsoil. Additionally, the dust can also damage buildings, machinery, and power systems. According to the United Nations, hundreds of millions of people are exposed to sand and dust storms every year, making them a growing global challenge.

A dense sandstorm envelops Dubai’s iconic skyline, creating a striking urban scene.

Yet nature often reminds us that even difficult events can have positive sides. As we explored earlier, dust from the Sahara carries important minerals, including phosphorus, which fertilises the Amazon Rainforest and supports plant growth. Dust also delivers nutrients to our oceans, where tiny marine organisms use them to grow. This shows how closely connected Earth’s natural systems are. However, when dust storms become stronger and more frequent because of land degradation and climate change, their harmful effects can outweigh these natural benefits.

Some of the world’s most powerful dust storms have shown just how destructive they can be. During the Dust Bowl of the 1930s in the United States, years of drought combined with poor farming practices created enormous dust storms that destroyed farmland and forced hundreds of thousands of people to leave their homes. More recently, in 2022, severe dust storms across Iraq sent thousands of people to hospitals with breathing problems and disrupted daily life across the country.

A dust storm approaching Rolla, Kansas, May 6, 1935.

The good news is that we can help reduce the risk of these storms. Protecting healthy soils, restoring degraded land, using sustainable farming methods, and managing water wisely all help keep the ground stable. One of the simplest and most effective solutions is planting and protecting trees, since they act as natural windbreaks. Their roots hold the soil together, reduce erosion, improve soil moisture, and create habitats for wildlife.

Our friend from Mauritania, Dah Ebbe, showed us how the Sahara sand was kept in place, thanks to the roots of the plants and trees. This not only helps to prevent sandstorms, but it also prevents desertification from spreading and consuming their villages, homes, and their cultural heritage.

Plants close to where Dah Ebbe lives.

Additionally, forests and healthy vegetation also store carbon, helping to slow climate change, which is making droughts more severe in many regions.

Considering all of the above, we can conclude that by restoring forests and protecting natural ecosystems, we help create landscapes that are stronger, healthier, and more resilient. On this International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms, we are reminded that caring for nature is also caring for ourselves. Through responsible land management, conservation, and tree planting, each of us can contribute to a future where communities and ecosystems thrive together.

If you are planting one or many trees in celebration of this special day, we would love to hear from you! Please remember to fill out this form on our website and tell us about your tree-planting activity!

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References:
https://www.un.org/en/observances/day-of-combating-sand-and-dust-storms
https://www.unccd.int/
https://community.wmo.int/site/knowledge-hub/programmes-and-initiatives/aviation/aviation-hazards-dust-storms-and-sand-storms
https://www.fao.org/
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sand-and-dust-storms
https://drought.unl.edu/dustbowl/
https://www.nasa.gov/centers-and-facilities/goddard/nasa-satellite-reveals-how-much-saharan-dust-feeds-amazons-plants/

Image sources:
Sand blowing from North Africa: https://news.miami.edu/rosenstiel/stories/2020/09/study-quantifies-saharan-dust-reaching-amazon.html
Dubai Storm: https://www.pexels.com/photo/clouds-over-sea-coast-with-dubai-skyscrapers-behind-967974
Dust Bowl: https://drought.unl.edu/dustbowl/
Title image: Armands Brants