Tree Plantation in Desert with the Groasis Waterboxx

In 2009, Mr. Jan Lindeman of Indo Dutch Jointventure Consultancy was appointed by Pieter Hoff, Managing Director and owner of AquaPro Holland BV, to introduce and market THE GROASIS WATERBOXX at the Indian market.

Pieter Hoff found the solution to bring back trees to the deserts in the world by using the difference in temperature between day and night in warm areas. Because of the this, during the night condense water is created. The problem is that all of this created water during the night, will evaporate immediately after the sun starts shining and the temperature rises. So the challenge was to find a way how to collect it and make use of it to grow plants in desert like areas. It took several years of testing, but finally the GROASIS WATERBOXX was introduced.

The innovation has been aimed at water extraction from rain and condensation and minimize of vaporization and has been in the first place intended for the tree cultivation.

The GROASIS WATERBOXX supports plants and trees to survive under difficult circumstances. The GROASIS WATERBOXX collects water in several manners at the same time, namely by catching rain, by artificial arousing condensation, by stimulating the capillary system and by the prevention of vaporization of groundwater. The GROASIS WATERBOXX supplies the collected water subsequently over a longer period to the tree planted in the centre. Furthermore the GROASIS WATERBOXX ensures to equalize the temperature in the surroundings of the roots, reducing competitive weeds at the planted tree and the prevention of damage by rodents. Because of these qualities the GROASIS WATERBOXX can play an important role at the re-foresting of burned woods, at CO2 collection, at anti-erosion, at programs prevent desert creation and at food- and timber production.

Every research plan starts with phrasing a question or in the case of AquaPro with phrasing questions:

• Can we solve the CO2 problem?
• Can we find the 1.75 billion hectares of land we need to do this?
• Can we find forestry zones without using fertile farmland?
• Can we use worthless, once wooded semi-deserts?
• Can we plant trees on rocky surfaces and mountain slopes?
• Can we reforest disaster areas?
• Can we do this without expensive and non-available irrigation systems?
• Can we grow trees on location?
• Can we create an economic boost through forestry?

The answer to all these questions is: YES! The only thing we need is the willpower to really do it! AquaPro technology makes it possible!

Past

Some hundreds of years ago the biggest part of dry land in the world was wooded. Yes! Even mountain slopes and most of the deserts. Spain was one big forest. Even that big dry eroded belt south of the Sahara (for example the Sahel) was wooded. The bare dry stony Apennines in the centre of Italy had thickly wooded slopes. This kind of areas could be found all over the world. So we are not talking about prehistoric times. On the geological timescale we are talking about yesterday. That is why we do have water available in these areas.

Today

The essence of the AquaPro technology lies in the GROASIS WATERBOXX. This instrument collects condensation and the rare rainwater in a smart way and distributes this to the young tree roots in minimal, exactly right quantities.

What about condensation?

Early in the morning on a sultry summer day cars are covered with a generous layer of condensation. If that water could be drained off to a reservoir from which it can no longer evaporate and if that process of condensation and draining would be repeated a couple of times, then we could quickly collect a huge quantity of water. There are deserts with a relative atmospheric humidity of 65% which condensates during the nocturnal drop in temperature. The problem is that this immediately evaporates when the sun comes up. With the GROASIS WATERBOXXthis no longer is the case, it collects and stores the condensation at once.

What about rain?

In most of the deserts there is more rain than we imagine. Many times between 150 to 250 mm per year. That is 150 to 250 litre per m2. In some dry areas, like in Eritrea, the average rainfall is even 1000 litres per m2 a year. Normally that water would evaporate in no time, but the GROASIS WATERBOXX does not allow this and immediately stores it!

The box can stand heavy rainfall as it is anchored under the surface. 

Is the GROASIS WATERBOXX robber stable sensitive?

The GROASIS WATERGROASIS WATERBOXX is not robber stable sensitive. It can placed in the surface by the use of the drill and anchored under the surface using the wind protectors. Furthermore it is usual in India that a 24 hour guarding at plantations is available. This is foreseen in our plans. The GROASIS WATERBOXX is something very specific, so will only be of interest for thieves out of curiosity.

The expectation of life for the GROASIS WATERBOXX and recycling of the GROASIS WATERBOXX

It can be expected that the duration of life is approximately 10 years and can be re-used for new plantations in the future.

The box is produced out of polypropylene and is not biologically degradable. After recycling the material can be used in the clothing industry( for the production of fleece jackets ), the car industry etc.

At this moment we are testing to produce the GROASIS WATERBOXX out of polymers. This can be degraded by nature within 1 to 2 years.

Protection against animals

No animal will be able to drink from the GROASIS WATERBOXX as this is covered to avoid evaporation. On top of that the guards at the plantation will also keep an eye on that.

The working of the GROASIS WATERBOXX:

	you plant 1, 2 or 3 plants/seeds in the open pipe, in the soil the cover produces condensation and captures water the water enters into the box through the 2 openings the cap can be used to refill if necessary
	the optional wind protectors can be used if you have an area with strong winds size: diameter 50 cm (20 inches) height 25 cm (10 inches) it contains 16 litre (4 gallon) of water 75 mm (3 inches) of rain is sufficient to fill it 100%
	the 2 pipes function as a siphon they prevent the water in the box from evaporating one box full with water is enough for one year the wick drips the water daily to the plants after one year the plant can grow on its own, you lift the box, replace the wick and plant again.

Proven technology

The GROASIS WATERBOXX has been tested 3 years in the Sahara desert by the Mohammed I University of Oujda in Morocco, with convincing  results.  Trees that were planted during the Summer with the GROASIS WATERBOXX survived well. The trees planted were measured and showed an average growth of more than 90% in length within one year. The test without the GROASIS WATERBOXX was watered weekly but 90% of the trees died. In the attachment you find the climate info of Oujda that you can compare with your own climate in order to see if the GROASIS WATERBOXX can also be of help in your place.

Planting in the desert with the GROASIS WATERGROASIS WATERBOXX   Total %   88,2 OK 11,8 Weak	Planting in the desert without the GROASIS WATERGROASIS WATERBOXX   Total %   10,5 OK 89,5 Dead

Tests have shown that the trees, after the GROASIS WATERBOXX is removed, successfully survive. This proves that planting with the GROASIS WATERBOXX and afterwards removing it, is a secure way of planting trees everywhere.


In case you are interested to order the GROASIS WATERBOXX, please contact Jan Lindeman at info@indo-dutch-jointventure-consultancy.com

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