Abstract:
According to UNEP(1997), arid lands (including semi-arid area) accounts for 38%
of the total terrestrial area. In these regions, evapotranspiration exceeds precipitation,
which is less than 500 mm. Arid Land Greening Team in Tokyo University of Agriculture
has been working, for 25 years, on greening projects in Djibouti, North-eastern African
arid land where the annual rainfall between 100-170 mm. In the present presentation, our
recent research topic on monitoring of the land surface and simulation of the water cycling
are introduced. Aiming for sustainable water utilization, groundwater storage potential
and greening potential are tried to be evaluated and delineated. Through those arid land
study works, progress may be anticipated on some of the UN sustainable development
goals, i.e. achieving food security and promoting sustainable agriculture with ensuring
availability and sustainable management of water.
