Drought protection: Ancient technique to mitigate shifting sands documented for future generations
People in the Sistan region of Iran have been using an indigenous technique, called ‘Teng’, to mitigate the effects of sand storms for centuries. The strategically placed interwoven tamarisk branches redirect shifting sands away from settlements, preventing villages and agricultural land from becoming buried. The practice dates back to prehistory but now risks getting lost. Research by IHE Delft MSc student Mohammadreza Jarkeh has earned recognition for preserving this nature-based solution for future generations.
Iran’s northeast Sistan region, which borders Afghanistan and Pakistan, historically is known as the breadbasket of western Asia. The lakes of the Hamoun wetland are fed by the fluctuating Helmand river, with droughts presenting severe challenges to the region’s residents. They have learned to overcome these challenges by building Teng fences.
Climate resilience
The practice demonstrates the climate resilience of Sistani people, who use local natural resources and apply the laws of nature to make the Teng fences for protection against sand storms, which can last up to 120 days. The Tengs are built almost parallel to the prevailing winds at an angle of 30 degrees to the wind direction, steering the flowing sands away from their settlements and fields. Without this solution, the sand moved by storms, which are becoming more frequent and intense, can bury a village within a week.
Indigenous technique
The practice is dying out as there is less collective work carried out by villagers nowadays. However, it does remain ingrained in the minds of elders who have worked the land all their lives. Some Tengs can still be found today, for example in the village of Qaleh Kang in Zahak County and the village of Kod where the Miankangi canal is badly affected by the shifting sands. Here a 600-metre Teng diverts the sand away from the village and the canal. By documenting this knowledge, Jehkar and his fellow researchers ensure that this indigenous technique is passed on to future generations.
“By documenting and understanding the Teng, this indigenous knowledge, nature-based solution for windblown sand mitigation, we want to reintroduce it, not just in Sistan but in similar arid regions around the world,” Jehkar said, adding that this ancient knowledge is not just history; it's a testament to human ingenuity in living in harmony with the earth.
Before coming to IHE Delft to pursue a MSc in Water and Sustainable Development, Jehkar was the Director of the Innovation Center at the University of Zabol, Iran. His research on Teng has been recognized by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage of Iran.
“By documenting and understanding the Teng, this indigenous knowledge, nature-based solution for windblown sand mitigation, we want to reintroduce it, not just in Sistan but in similar arid regions around the world,”
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