Page 17 - Perspective Paper

Might the fear-based culture that drives societies today be what is holding us back from making significant
steps towards stabilizing the climate? Possibly. In a world that is endlessly complex, uncertainty in any
decision is inevitable. Our obsession with ‘optimising’ our systems debilitates the resilience of our species,
and gives the false impression that all possible outcomes are foreseen. Scientific research is essential in
narrowing the range of these uncertainties, and will be increasingly crucial as the impact of crises gain
grounds. Knowing that we have the physical capabilities to influence our environment and we have the
technology to understand and quantify the natural world, it is up to each one of us to integrate this
knowledge into our spheres of influence and accept margins of uncertainty. Once enough of us do so,
synergies will emerge as our spheres will organically begin to overlap, allowing us to escape the cycle we are
in.
However visionary, the Bardawil & Sinai Initiative is an opportunity for humanity to take a leap towards a
better future for nature and society. After over five years of research, modelling and field-tests, the project
is now actionable and the potential local and global gains are tremendous. The implementation of an
extensive monitoring scheme and ecosystem management plan as part of the project roll-out will not only
ensure that resources are used sustainably, but will also create green job opportunities for local
communities. Like no other we are aware of the unorthodoxy of regreening desert regions, but rather than
be paralysed by uncertainty we have joined forces with academics, ecologists and engineers all over the
globe to conceive a science-informed, holistic and long-term approach for restabilizing the local ecosystem
to its old state - one that is fully biofunctional and regenerative.

A strategic ‘living systems’ approach to climate stabilization 17/26