The sun beats down on the parched earth, and the only sound is the wind blowing through the dry leaves. The crops have withered, and the animals have gone thirsty. The people are desperate, and they know that they are running out of time.

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. This is having a devastating impact on people and ecosystems around the world.

In some places, drought has led to famine and mass displacement. In others, it has caused waterborne 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. Our overconsumption of water and our pollution of the environment is making droughts more likely and more severe.

In addition, climate change is expected to exacerbate the problem of water scarcity, with dry summers in England increasing by up to 50% and the amount of water available reduced by at least 10 to 15%.

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.. We need to reduce our water consumption, invest in water conservation and protect our environment. If we do not, they say, we will face the consequences of our inaction.

But there is hope - and it may come from an unlikely place. Nature-based solutions, such as reintroducing beaversLarge semiaquatic rodents that live in the northern hemisphere. They are being reintroduced to the UK. to more areas, can help to mitigateMake something bad less serious or dangerous. 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. Conservationists hope that reintroducing beavers to more areas could increase the resilience of our ecosystems to drought.

In the United Kingdom, for example, beavers have been reintroduced to several areas in recent years. These reintroductions have been shown to have 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. . The National TrustA charity operating in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that maintains historic buildings and country estates for the public. Founded in 1895, today it owns more than 500 properties, as well as a large and expanding art collection. has declared that beavers at Holnicote in Somerset have shown they can play a role in restoring lost habitats and "reducing the impact of flood and droughts''.

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

We can all do our part to help mitigate the effects of drought, say climate activists. We can conserve water in our everyday lives and campaign to ensure our governments take action. But these are not the only solutions to the problem of drought. Environmental experts argue that by working with nature, we can help to build a more resilient future for our planet.

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.