RM> There was talk as well about slowly planting forests at the
RM> edge of deserts which change the weather in the area to be
RM> self sustaining but, as you say, the water has to come from
RM> somewhere else.

AA>I've read that there a technique of "planting" deserts that
  >creates pools for water to collect and eventually turns the
  >desert into a thriving place for flora and fauna, and keep the
  >sands from blowing around.

Yes, that's what I was referring to. It sounds like a great idea
for that area but you have to wonder where the water comes from
that would create that. If it ends up there it has to come from
someplace else, although I suppose technically it could come from
the oceans where the only damage might be a tiny increase in
salinity which might not hurt anything.

You're fighting mother nature there since there is all sorts of
evidence that the deserts used to be covered in vegitation and
there are even marks on underground parts of the Pyramids showing
water damage from flooding a long time ago..

Plus things are always changing. In Canada, the desert areas in
the prairies used to be grasslands and when things were warmer
the far north was mostly grassland too where the permafrost is
now (for the moment)..

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 * SLMR Rob  * I hate people who keep talking while I'm interrupting
 * Origin: Capitol City Online (618:250/1)