A new report, the Global Deserts Outlook produced by the UN's Environment Programme, highlights the increasing pressures on desert ecosystems due to climate change, high water demand, and tourism. The report emphasizes that deserts are not barren wastelands but are biologically, economically, and culturally dynamic. It also points out that excessive water use for water-intensive agricultural crops is a major concern, but if deserts are managed sensibly, they can provide significant economic benefits. Desertification will be the focus of World Environment Day on Monday, with ecologists planning to plant trees to slow erosion and give talks in schools. In Mauritius, a group will plant vegetation on dunes to protect beaches from erosion, while activists in Churchill, Australia, are collecting computer parts for recycling. In Zambia, a group is organizing a "Miss Environment" beauty pageant, and in Vadodara, India, activists are encouraging schools to plant trees and build sandcastles to increase awareness about deserts and desertification. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan stated that poverty, unsustainable land management, and climate change are turning drylands into deserts, which in turn leads to poverty. The report also suggests that while many changes will occur in the next 50 years, some may be surprisingly positive. New economic opportunities such as shrimp and fish farms in Arizona and the Negev Desert in Israel are providing environmentally friendly livelihoods for local residents. Additionally, desert plants and animals are being explored for their potential as sources of new drugs and crops. Some experts believe that better utilization of deserts could help address issues related to global warming, with the Sahara alone having the potential to generate enough solar energy to meet the world's electricity needs. However, many of the 12 desert regions studied are expected to become drier in the future, and the melting of glaciers in South America is posing challenges for desert ecosystems that rely on their waters. The effects of human activity are still creating challenges, particularly in desert cities in the United States and the United Arab Emirates where a growing population is putting strain on limited water resources. The unique wildlife and ecosystems in mountainous desert regions are also at risk and could disappear within the next 50 years if immediate action is not taken.