Utilizing Wind and Solar Energy to Mitigate Desertification in

Mountainous Landscapes

Ozoda Adilova

Jizzakh State Pedagogical Institute, Jizzakh, Uzbekistan

Keywords: Livestock, Mountain Landscape, Wood, Unconventional Energy, Solar Energy, Pore, Biogas, Livestock

Farms, Filtration, Condensation, Pasture Capacity, Biomass, Solar Photovoltaic Station.

Abstract: The article discusses the factors influencing the desertification process in mountain and foothill landscapes,

as well as the possibilities of using wind and solar energy in mountainous areas.

1 INTRODUCTION

Presently, the phenomenon of desertification is

extensive, affecting not only flat desert terrains but

also foothills and mountainous landscapes. A key

factor contributing to this issue is the increasing

anthropogenic pressure on the local population. To

illustrate this, we examine the case of mountain and

foothill landscapes surrounding the Middle Zarafshan

valley, where the desertification process is gaining

momentum.

2 DISCUSSION OF KEY

FINDINGS

The Nurata mountain system, encircling the Middle

Zarafshan valley from the north, comprises Gobdin

Mountain, Karachatagy, Aktag, and Karatags from

east to west, along with the Nurata ridge. In the

valley's south, you find Chaqilqalan, Qoratepa,

Zirabulak, and Ziyovutdin mountains. The highest

peaks in both ranges slightly surpass 2,000 meters.

These mountains slope down from east to west,

transitioning into high hills at the western edges.

Many mountains feature streams and extensive karst

springs, predominantly flowing on the northern and

southern slopes, with surrounding villages varying in

size based on water availability.

Due to moderate mountain heights, cattle can

graze in most places. However, areas distant from

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1523-0816

villages with scarce and fragmented springs see

minimal livestock grazing. Villagers near springs

graze their livestock year-round. Considering an

average-sized village with a hundred families, each

having around ten sheep and goats, approximately

1,000 sheep and 300 cattle graze within a 5-6 km

radius daily. Larger villages, such as Gos, Zinak,

Qoratepa, Ohalik, Sazaghan, Aksay, Josh, Chuya,

Jizmon, and Maidan on the northern slopes of the

Chaqilqalan Mountains, have populations exceeding

10,000. As populations grow, cattle numbers

increase, resulting in 5-15 times more livestock than

pasture capacity. The rising goat population,

particularly, poses a threat to shrubs and trees,

causing substantial damage to the mountain

environment.

Villagers in the mountain foothills utilize tree

branches, shrubs, and mountain vegetation for baking

bread in ovens. Additionally, they use bushes, trees,

and livestock waste for cooking and heating homes in

winter. Unfortunately, near villages, trees and shrubs

have been completely cleared from mountain slopes.

In recent years, "woodcutter" groups have

emerged in villages, selling truckloads of firewood at

prices ranging from 1,000,000 to 1,500,000 sums. In

the Samarkand region cities, firewood prices have

surpassed 2,000,000 sums.

The extensive felling of trees, coupled with

increased cattle numbers, is severely impacting

mountain ecology. Erosion and soil loss occur on bare

slopes, contributing to reduced spring water levels

and drying springs. This process of mountain

Adilova, O.

Utilizing Wind and Solar Energy to Mitigate Desertiﬁcation in Mountainous Landscapes.

DOI: 10.5220/0012949300003882

Paper published under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

In Proceedings of the 2nd Pamir Transboundary Conference for Sustainable Societies (PAMIR-2 2023), pages 1037-1039

ISBN: 978-989-758-723-8

1037

desertification is expected to intensify with

population growth.

Mountains act as significant water accumulators,

absorbing atmospheric precipitation. Some

groundwater, formed through filtration,

condensation, and siltation, surfaces as springs. To

counter desertification, it is crucial to provide

adequate heating and fuel to mountain communities,

and the viable solution lies in harnessing

unconventional energy resources.

Uzbekistan benefits from 290-320 sunny days

annually, with a solar energy potential of 50,973

million tons of oil equivalent. Currently, only 0.3% of

solar energy is utilized in the country. Solar energy

applications in mountainous and foothill landscapes

include electricity generation, heating houses,

pumping groundwater, drying fruits, and irrigating

hillsides.

While the cost of electricity from solar

photovoltaic stations (FES) is currently slightly

higher, installing solar panels in remote residential

areas without power grids proves more economical.

With village expansion and increased electricity

usage, there's a growing need to expedite solar energy

adoption to meet population demands.

Wind energy stands as an inexhaustible resource

in Uzbekistan. The technical potential of wind energy

is 9.9 billion kW/s per year at 10 meters above the

surface. Globally, wind energy is a rapidly growing

industry, accounting for varying percentages of

electricity generation in different countries. The

average annual wind speed in Uzbekistan's open

plains ranges from 4-7 m/s, making wind energy

viable, even in mountainous areas with constant wind

paths.

The value of electricity generated by wind farms

decreases with increasing wind speed, making wind

power competitive with coal-fired power plants. The

use of wind energy, along with solar and biogas, can

contribute significantly to meeting the energy needs

of mountain and foothill communities.

Livestock herds, abundant in these areas, provide

a valuable resource for biogas production. Biogas

plants can utilize livestock waste, as well as other

biomass like aquatic plants and tree branches. Biogas

energy already plays a substantial role in some

developed countries.

In addition to solar and wind power, small

hydropower plants can generate electricity using

rivers in mountainous and foothill regions. Numerous

experiments with solar and wind power plants have

been undertaken in the Zarafshan Valley, particularly

in hospitals and villages, demonstrating the feasibility

and benefits of renewable energy sources. Hand-

made wind power plants have been successfully

operating in Bulungur district for over a decade.

3 CONCLUSIONS

In mountain and foothill plains, the construction of

solar and wind power plants in close proximity is

advisable due to their complementary nature. Wind

stations prove beneficial during winter and spring

when solar panel activity decreases. Concurrently,

efforts are underway to develop and promote small

biogas plants. Methane, constituting 55-70% of cattle

rot, can be utilised for cooking, heating, and

electricity generation.

The implementation of non-traditional energy

resources in mountain and foothill landscapes not

only enhances local convenience but also creates

opportunities for developing vast expanses of land.

Currently, large foothill areas serve as pastures due to

water scarcity, but with the use of wind and solar

energy, groundwater extraction and drip irrigation

technologies can transform these areas into orchards,

vineyards, and fields for growing vegetables and

melons on tens of thousands of hectares.

By employing solar, wind, biogas, and hydropower

for heating homes in mountainous and foothill

landscapes, there is a significant reduction in the

population's reliance on firewood. This results in the

restoration of natural trees and shrubs on mountain

slopes, thereby improving the overall mountain

ecology. Access to electricity in mountainous

regions, coupled with the development of mountain

gardening through irrigation from springs and

streams using motors, contributes to the creation of

picturesque landscapes. In essence, the effective use

of non-conventional energy sources stands as a

crucial tool in halting the rapidly accelerating

desertification process in mountains and foothills.

The exploration of non-conventional energy

resources represents a paramount task in

contemporary geographical sciences. Maps detailing

the distribution of these resources serve as a

foundation for planning the installation of power

generation equipment and the efficient utilisation of

non-conventional energy resources.

A pivotal task for geographical sciences involves

studying the wind and solar energy reserves in all

regions and districts of the country. This exploration

aims to assess non-traditional energy resources,

conduct scientific research, and ascertain their

strength and magnitude.

PAMIR-2 2023 - The Second Pamir Transboundary Conference for Sustainable Societies- | PAMIR

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