Hedge Installation in Desertified Areas Using Drought-Resistant Deep-Rooted Plants

Hedge planting using deep-rooted, drought-resistant native species is a key strategy in the EU's LIFE-AGROASSIS project to combat desertification in Cyprus. Coordinated by the Cypriot Agricultural Research Institute, the initiative involves the Forest Department and KES Research Centre in developing the Deep Root Training Tubes (DRTT) system for resilient plant establishment. Volunteers from 20 organizations, trained by the Loa Foundation, have supported large-scale hedge installation. The project has successfully produced propagation material for 18 native species across tree, shrub, and herbaceous forms, selected for their deep root systems and adaptation to arid conditions. These species enhance land resilience and support climate change adaptation in Cyprus’s driest regions.