The sun beats down on the dry earth, and the only sound is the wind blowing through the dry leaves. The crops have died, and the animals have gone thirsty. 

This is the reality of drought; a global crisis that is only getting worse. As climate changeLong-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change. intensifies, droughts are becoming more frequent and more severe.

In some places, drought has led to famine and mass displacement. In others, it has caused waterborneCarried by or through water. diseases to spread. And in all places, it has made it harder to grow the food which is essential for human survival.

Although droughts do occur naturally, experts say drought today is not just a natural disaster. It is also a man-made crisis. The increasing risk of water scarcity, they say, is due to human mismanagement. We use too much water and pollute the environment.

Experts say we need to act now to prevent drought from becoming the next pandemicAn outbreak of disease which occurs across a wide geographic area, as opposed to an epidemic, which is confined to a particular region.. 

But there is hope - and it may come from an unlikely place. Experts say beaversLarge semiaquatic rodents that live in the northern hemisphere. They are being reintroduced to the UK. could reduce the effects of drought. 

Beavers are natural engineers. By gnawing down trees and building dams, they help to create wetlands, which store water and regulate the flow of water.

In the United Kingdom, beaver reintroductions have had a number of benefits, including increased water storage, improved water quality and increased biodiversityBiodiversity is all the different kinds of life you'll find in one area - the variety of animals, plants, fungi, and even microorganisms like bacteria that make up our natural world. Each of these species and organisms work together in ecosystems, like an intricate web, to maintain balance and support life. . 

Of course, beavers are not a magic bullet. But they are a part of the solution. Scientists and engineers are working on new answers to drought. These solutions include desalination, cloud seedingA weather modification technique. It involves adding substances to clouds to make it rain. and water recycling. 

And we can all do our part to help reduce the effects of drought, say climate activists, from conserving water to campaigning. 

Yes: We need natural solutions. Beavers are natural engineers who build dams to create wetlands. These wetlands can help to store water during droughts, which can help to mitigate the effects of drought.

No: The scale of the problem is too big and beavers can also have negative consequences, such as blocking rivers and disrupting fish migration. Beavers can also be a nuisance as their dams can flood land.

Or... In some cases, beavers can be a valuable tool for mitigating the effects of drought. But they must be part of a bigger plan that includes other solutions plus education on water conservation.

Climate change - Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change.

Waterborne - Carried by or through water.

Pandemic - An outbreak of disease which occurs across a wide geographic area, as opposed to an epidemic, which is confined to a particular region.

Beavers - Large semiaquatic rodents that live in the northern hemisphere. They are being reintroduced to the UK.

Biodiversity - Biodiversity is all the different kinds of life you'll find in one area - the variety of animals, plants, fungi, and even microorganisms like bacteria that make up our natural world. Each of these species and organisms work together in ecosystems, like an intricate web, to maintain balance and support life.

Cloud seeding - A weather modification technique. It involves adding substances to clouds to make it rain.