By Sven Hosford

One tends to think of the Sahara Desert as a place, but in fact, it is more of an event that happens to be happening in a particular place at a particular time. In this case, the time and place are a swath of sand larger than the continental United States. What may be more mind-boggling is that the Sahara Desert is a man-made event. Thousands of years ago, it looked more like the American Midwest, with millions of acres of fertile plains of grain. With just a few thousand years of mankind's overgrazing and poor irrigation techniques, the topsoil fled and with it most of the vegetation. Throw in global warming -- another man-made event -- and you have an event that continues to expand southward across an entire continent.

At first glance Panditji Rashmani Tigunaut might seem an unlikely David to turn back this mighty Goliath, as he is the Spiritual Leader of the Himalayan Institute, founded by Swami Rama and based in Honesdale, PA. But he convince many during a recent visit to the Institute's local center in Mt. Lebanon, where he presented a slide show of the Institute's first Center in Africa, near Kumbo Carmeroon. He explained how that center will serve the local community, and eventually serve as the hub for the plan to save a continent from the ever encroaching desert.

The plan is elegant in its simplicity. Just plant some trees. Not just any trees of course, but very special, very hardy trees called "pongamia" that thrive in hot dry conditions while revitalizing the soil and producing a nut that contains an oil easily turned into biofuel. And not just a few trees of course, but a ten-mile wide band of pongamia that crosses the entire continent along the entire southern border of the Sahara.

The plan seems wise and practical when explained by the soft-spoken Panditji, especially when he describes the first success they have had with a program that began in 2003. The Institute's center in south India has already employed thousands of people in a similar project. "In India we have already planted 100 thousand acres -- that's more than 25 million trees." The area had been plagued by suicides by farmers who could no long provide for their families. That project has helped people increase their self esteem while becoming the model of an energy self-sufficient village in remote desert areas.

The key to both programs success is the special characteristics of the pongamia tree. "Number one, this tree can grow best in a very hot dry atmosphere as long as the palms don't go below freezing," Panditji explained. "Number two, this tree can withstand great drought. Only for the first two years does it have to be taken care of, and after 5 or 6 years has the capacity to survive completely on its own. Another quality of the tree is that it's a nitrogen-fixing tree, and therefore it enriches the soil. The beauty of this tree is it has a non-eatable oil in the seeds. In three years time it starts giving the seeds and the farmers can sell the seeds start earning money, so therefore they have a financial incentive." His enthusiasm is more than contagious as he bubbles, "This is a very wonderful tree!"

Before the serious tree-planting can begin, there are many obstacles to hurdle. One of the principles Swami Rama founded the Himalayan Institute upon is "Practical, practical, practical." All aspects of the HI's overall plan adheres closely to this principle.

It might seem counterintuitive to put the first center in the rain forest if you are trying to stop a desert, but the first priority is to earn the trust and support of the local population by employing them and teaching them advanced farming and land management techniques, growing a diverse range of sustainable agriculture, including an herb that is quite effective in treating malaria. (Thankfully, the Center is at 5500 feet, above the mosquito line.)

This Center will serve as a model of rural empowerment, and will serve as the flagship for the many HI Community Centers envisioned to spread across Africa, each one helping to heal a continent, stop a desert with an integrated -- and very practical -- approach.

Visit www.himalayaninstitute.org to find out more.

Himalayan Institute Pittsburgh
300 Beverly Rd in Mt. Lebanon
412-344-7434