Oases of the world: Urgent call to save key archives for cultural and biological diversity – Nature

Report on the Global Status and Preservation of Oasis Ecosystems in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

Oases are critical geo-bio-cultural systems that have historically enabled human settlement in arid regions and are vital for the future. These ecosystems are facing an accelerating crisis due to climatic, economic, and social pressures, potentially impacting 500 million people. The degradation of oases represents a significant threat to the achievement of multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including those related to poverty, hunger, water security, climate action, and biodiversity. This report calls for immediate, coordinated global action to protect these unique systems through a comprehensive research and policy framework, ensuring their contribution to a sustainable future.

Introduction: Oases as Critical Systems for Sustainable Development

Oases are unique agro-ecosystems that represent humanity’s successful adaptation to arid environments. For millennia, they have served as centers for food production, cultural heritage, and biodiversity, directly contributing to several SDGs.

• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): Traditional oasis agriculture, combining crops like date palms with fruit trees, vegetables, and livestock, provides food security in some of the world’s driest regions.
• SDG 15 (Life on Land): Oases are hotspots of biological diversity, safeguarding unique plant and animal species and genetic resources.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): They are models of sustainable settlement and preserve invaluable tangible and intangible cultural heritage, including traditional knowledge systems for managing soil and water.

Classification and Contribution of Oasis Systems

Oasis systems can be classified into three primary types based on the level of human intervention, each with distinct characteristics and values:

1. Natural Oases: Defined by unaltered geological origins, these systems exhibit high levels of geo- and biodiversity, often with endemic species, signaling long-term ecological stability. They are crucial natural archives for achieving SDG 15.
2. Traditional Oases: These are man-made systems reliant on sophisticated water management. They are characterized by high bio-cultural diversity, where traditional farming knowledge supports sustainable livelihoods and food security, aligning with SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2.
3. Modern Oases: Developed through industrial technologies, these systems focus on intensified monoculture production. This approach often leads to biological, geochemical, and cultural degradation, undermining long-term sustainability and posing a risk to achieving the SDGs.

Accelerating Threats to Oases and a Global Crisis for the SDGs

Oases are highly vulnerable to a convergence of threats that jeopardize their existence and undermine progress toward global sustainability targets.

• Climate Change: As outlined in SDG 13 (Climate Action), rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns place extreme stress on these fragile ecosystems.
• Unsustainable Practices: Industrial agriculture, overexploitation of groundwater, and expansion of monocultures lead to declining water tables and soil salinization, directly conflicting with SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 15.
• Loss of Heritage and Knowledge: The deterioration of oases results in the erosion of traditional farming knowledge, culture, and heritage, which are essential for community resilience and sustainable land management (SDG 11).

This hidden global crisis affects regional biodiversity, compromises humanity’s ability to adapt to arid conditions, and threatens the livelihoods of millions, creating a significant setback for SDG 1 and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

A Systemic Approach for Oasis Preservation and SDG Achievement

The complex interplay of social, cultural, economic, and environmental factors in oases necessitates a systemic and interdisciplinary approach to their preservation. Research and policy must recognize oases as dynamic networks that are vital for developing effective climate adaptation strategies in drylands.

The Interplay of Natural and Cultural Heritage

Preserving the integrity of oases requires profound knowledge of their ecohydrogeology and the human interactions that shape them. Documenting local knowledge, such as information on endogenous crop varieties, is essential for ensuring sustainable livelihoods and protecting the agrobiodiversity that underpins SDG 2. Effective conservation must integrate strategies for the sustainable extraction, distribution, and use of groundwater to support both natural and agricultural biodiversity, thereby contributing to SDG 6 and SDG 15.

Historical Context and Future Adaptation

Archaeological and paleo-environmental records from oases offer crucial data on past human adaptations to environmental change. This historical perspective is invaluable for developing future-proof strategies to enhance resilience against climate change, directly supporting the objectives of SDG 13. Integrated research programs are needed to study these legacies and inform sustainable land, soil, and water management practices.

A Global Call to Action: The Resilient Oasis Concept (ROC)

To address the urgent challenges facing oases, a global effort is required. An international network of researchers has been established to promote initiatives supporting oasis preservation, aligning with global frameworks such as the UN Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Paris Agreement. This initiative advocates for the Resilient Oasis Concept (ROC), a framework designed to guide the process toward sustainability and resilience.

Foundations of the Resilient Oasis Concept

The ROC is built upon three foundational pillars, reflecting a commitment to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):

1. A Grass-roots Approach: Identifying imperatives, values, and ideas established by local communities to ensure solutions are locally relevant and empowering.
2. Comprehensive International Research: Establishing state-of-the-art research agendas to document oasis systems and identify strategies to mitigate impacts on biodiversity, cultural heritage, and ecosystem services.
3. Policy Support and Recommendations: Developing guidance to support decision-makers in implementing policies that increase the sustainability and resilience of oases worldwide.

Recommended Actions and Policy Guidance

Urgent, concerted action is necessary to safeguard these unique systems. The following steps are recommended to initiate a global movement for the protection of oases.

Key Strategic Steps

• Establish a Knowledge Platform: Create a platform to facilitate data access and foster exchange among local communities, researchers, and decision-makers, enhancing collaborative efforts as envisioned by SDG 17.
• Conduct Holistic Research: Implement research agendas that explicitly address ecological and social resilience, focusing on the ecohydrogeology of oases and their role in human settlement systems.
• Promote Sustainable Practices: Scale up successful, sustainable land-use practices and reinforce locally adapted management of land, soil, and water resources to preserve biodiversity and support small family farmers, contributing directly to SDG 1, SDG 2, and SDG 15.

Through these concerted global actions, the unique biological and cultural heritage of oases can be safeguarded, ensuring their continued role in supporting human prosperity and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on the threats to oases connects to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by highlighting the complex interplay of environmental, social, and economic factors crucial for their survival and the well-being of the populations that depend on them. The following SDGs are addressed:

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger: The article discusses oases as centers of agriculture that provide food security in arid regions. It mentions the cultivation of “date palms, fruit trees, vegetables, cereals, and fodder,” and the role of “small family farmers,” directly linking to food production and sustainable agriculture.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: Water is a central theme. The article highlights threats like “overexploitation of groundwater,” “declining water tables,” and “water salinization.” It calls for “sustainable management of water resources” and understanding “aquifers, springs, soil and human interactions,” which are core to this goal.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article emphasizes the cultural importance of oases as sites of “humanity’s settlement in drylands.” It points to the risk of losing “tangible and intangible heritage,” “traditional knowledge systems,” and “collapsing mudbrick architecture,” aligning with the goal of protecting cultural heritage.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: Oases are described as “among the most vulnerable systems to the impacts of climate change.” The text calls for “effective climate adaptation strategies” and developing “short-, medium-, and long-term adaptation plans” in response to climatic pressures.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The article identifies oases as “hotspots of biodiversity” and warns of “regional declines in biodiversity” and the “demise of biological values.” It argues for action to “protect this unique system,” “revitalize entire ecosystems,” and “safeguard vulnerable species,” which are central to protecting terrestrial ecosystems.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The article explicitly calls for a “global effort for resilient oases” and describes the formation of a “global network of 30 researchers” in collaboration with “UNESCO.” This initiative to create a “knowledge platform” and foster exchange among “local communities, researchers, and decision-makers” exemplifies the multi-stakeholder partnerships promoted by SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 2.4 (Sustainable food production): The article’s focus on traditional oasis agriculture, which combines diverse crops and livestock breeding, and the threat from “intensively irrigated monoculture plantations” directly relates to ensuring sustainable food production systems and implementing resilient agricultural practices.
2. Target 2.5 (Maintain genetic diversity): The discussion on “date palm agro-biodiversity,” “endogenous varieties,” and the need to characterize their “genetic integrity” aligns with this target, which aims to maintain the genetic diversity of seeds, cultivated plants, and farmed animals.
3. Target 6.4 (Increase water-use efficiency and ensure sustainable withdrawals): The article’s repeated warnings about “overexploitation of groundwater,” “declining water tables,” and the “unsustainable use of groundwater” directly address the need to substantially increase water-use efficiency and tackle water scarcity.
4. Target 11.4 (Protect the world’s cultural and natural heritage): The call to prevent the “demise of tangible and intangible values,” including the loss of “traditional knowledge,” “vanishing farming traditions,” and “collapsing mudbrick architecture,” is a direct reflection of this target.
5. Target 13.1 (Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards): The article highlights the vulnerability of oases to climate change and calls for developing “effective climate adaptation strategies” and increasing the “resilience of these ecosystems,” which is the core objective of this target.
6. Target 15.1 (Conserve and restore terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems): The call for “immediate action to protect this unique system” and “revitalize entire ecosystems” aligns with the goal of ensuring the conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems.
7. Target 15.5 (Protect biodiversity and natural habitats): The article’s concern over “regional declines in biodiversity,” the need to “safeguard vulnerable species,” and the description of oases as “hotspots of biodiversity” directly connects to taking urgent action to halt biodiversity loss.
8. Target 17.16 (Enhance the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development): The formation of a “global network” involving researchers and UNESCO to “raise awareness” and “promote initiatives” for oasis preservation is a clear example of a multi-stakeholder partnership aimed at achieving sustainable development goals.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention official SDG indicators, but it implies several metrics that could be used to measure progress:

• For Targets 2.4 & 2.5:
  • Indicator: Number and diversity of local/endogenous crop varieties being cultivated. The article emphasizes “date palm agro-biodiversity” and documenting “endogenous varieties,” suggesting that tracking the conservation and use of these varieties is a key measure of success.
  • Indicator: Proportion of agricultural land managed under sustainable, traditional practices versus monoculture. The contrast between “traditional three-level agricultural system” and “intensively irrigated monoculture plantations” implies this as a measure of sustainability.
• For Target 6.4:
  • Indicator: Level of groundwater tables in oasis regions. The mention of “declining water tables” makes this a direct and critical indicator of water stress and exploitation.
  • Indicator: Degree of soil and water salinization. The article cites “salination of soil” and “water salinization” as specific threats, making their measurement a key progress indicator.
• For Target 11.4:
  • Indicator: Status of preservation of tangible cultural heritage sites (e.g., mudbrick architecture). The article contrasts “collapsing mudbrick architecture” with “preserved mudbrick architecture,” suggesting that the condition of these structures is a measurable indicator.
  • Indicator: Extent of documentation and transmission of traditional knowledge. The concern over the “erosion of traditional knowledge” implies that the number of documented practices and active knowledge-bearers could be an indicator.
• For Target 15.5:
  • Indicator: Trends in the populations of endemic or vulnerable species in oases. The call to “safeguard vulnerable species” and the reference to “high species endemism in natural oases” point to species population health as a key biodiversity metric.
• For Target 17.16:
  • Indicator: Level of engagement in the proposed global knowledge platform. The article suggests establishing a platform to “foster exchange among local communities, researchers, and decision-makers.” The number of active users and shared datasets would be a measure of this partnership’s effectiveness.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nature.com