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high-speed transportation as well as sustainable control meas-

ures in the country.

Active aeolian processes including abrasion, transportation

and accumulation are prevailing in wide areas of Kuwait’s

terrestrial ecosystem. These areas constitute 40-50 per cent

of the country. Assessment and monitoring programmes

for aeolian processes through ground stations and remote

sensing are basic requirements for designing action plans

for controlling encroaching sands. In addition, deep under-

standing of the mechanisms of sand transport and their

relation to current land use are essential for identifying the

magnitude and general trends of sand encroachment prob-

lems. Based on that, the best approach and techniques for

mitigating sand encroachment problems is selected.

The National Committee for Combating Desertification

in Kuwait

discussed the feasibility of reducing land degra-

dation from about 72 per cent in 2015 to 0-5 per cent in

2030. For this purpose, a 20-year land degradation neutral-

ity scheme is proposed. It consists of five programmes: land

degradation monitoring, mapping and assessment (ground

and remote sensing investigations); GIS-based knowledge

support system; restoration/rehabilitation (for soil, vege-

tation, wildlife and water supplies); sustainable land use;

and public awareness and human development. Managing

the hazards of shifting sands falls under the umbrella of

programme number four, sustainable land use.

In Kuwait the network of roads consists of six high-

ways: the Sabiyah, Salmi, Abdaly, Wafra-Mina Abdullah,

Wafra-Azour and Kabd highways. The magnitude of sand

encroachment along the highways is remarkably variable.

It is controlled by both local and regional conditions. In

general the most significant controlling factors are:

• road extension in relation to the main natural NW-SE

corridors of shifting sands (Huwamiliyah-Wafra and

Umm Qaser-Ras As Sabiyah)

• land use types in the upwind side of the roads (such

as open desert areas, protected areas, farms, buildings,

bundwall and green belts)

• availability of local sources of drift sands (dry wadis,

dissected hills, sabkhas, playas, sand sheets and

sand dunes)

• local geomorphologic and topographic conditions

• vegetation cover (density and types).

Based on recent field measurements, three degrees of sand

encroachment are identified along highways. Very severe

encroachment, where close to 50 per cent of the road is

vulnerable to sand encroachment, is represented by the

Al Salmi and Sabiyah roads. Severe encroachment means

that close to 30 per cent of the road is vulnerable, and

this category is represented by the Wafra-Mina Abdallah,

Wafra-Azour and Kabd roads. Moderate encroachment,

where close to 10 per cent of the road is vulnerable to

encroachment, is represented by the Abdaly Road.

An action plan has been proposed to manage the sand

encroachment problem along highways in Kuwait. It

consists of an integrated system of mobile sand control.

This system was successfully tested by the Kuwait Institute

for Scientific Research in the Kabd Experimental Station

in 2004. It comprises two impounding fences (2 m high,

chain-link type with slats) situated 100 m apart. Three rows

of drought-resistant trees will be planted in the middle

distance between the two fences. The total effectiveness of

this system is estimated to be around 28 years.

Characteristics and cost of the proposed mobile sand control system

Source: EPA Kuwait

Components

Sustainability

Cost per 1,000 m length *

Durability

Integrated mechanical- biological: double

impounding fences (about 100 m apart and

2 m high) with three rows of drought-resistant

trees in the middle

Very high (integration

between mechanical and

biological)

KD60,000:40,0000 (2,000 m of chain-

link fence)KD20,000 (cost of 600 trees

and irrigation for one year)

25-30 years

* Cost includes labour and materials. 1KD = US$3.5

Proposed mobile sand control for the Wafra area: red

arrows indicate the direction of sand transport

Source: National Committee for Combating Desertification in

Kuwait (Kuwait National Focal Point, KEPA, 2015)

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