The desertification problem involves as its significant constituent the control of shifting sands, that cause sand drifts to irrigated or dry lands, human settlements, canals, railways, motor roads, and various civil structures, which is an enormous damage to the countries' economies and interference with their production efforts. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) data total area of lands subjected to desertification amounts up to 48.3 million sq. km (36.3 per cent of the world's land surface).