A recent report by the UN's Environment Programme highlights the mounting challenges facing the world's desert ecosystems, including climate change, high water demand, and tourism. The Global Deserts Outlook emphasizes the economic benefits of deserts if managed properly, noting that they are not barren wastelands but rather biologically, economically, and culturally vibrant regions. The report calls for more sustainable management of water resources in desert areas, particularly in water-intensive agriculture. Desertification is the focus of World Environment Day this Monday, with ecologists planning to plant trees to combat erosion and give talks in schools. In Mauritius, a group plans to plant vegetation on dunes to protect beaches from erosion, while activists in Churchill, Australia, are collecting computer parts for recycling. In Zambia, a group hosts a "Miss Environment" beauty pageant, and in Vadodara, India, activists are promoting tree planting and sandcastle building in local schools to raise 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 exacerbates poverty. Despite many expected changes in the next 50 years, some may surprisingly have a positive impact. New economic opportunities like shrimp and fish farms are emerging in Arizona and the Negev Desert in Israel, providing environmentally friendly livelihoods for locals. Desert plants and animals are now being viewed as potential sources of new drugs and crops. Experts suggest that deserts could help combat global warming, with the Sahara alone having the potential to capture enough solar energy to power the world. However, many of the 12 desert regions studied are expected to become even drier in the future. The melting of glaciers that sustain deserts in South America is also causing problems. The influence of humans is still leading to challenges. In both the United States and the United Arab Emirates, an increasing number of individuals are opting to reside in desert cities, placing additional strain on limited water supplies. Mountainous regions within deserts are especially at risk, with their wildlife and ecosystems facing potential extinction within the next 50 years if immediate measures are not taken.