Scientists inspired by a camel's nostrils are set to achieve the impossible and grow aman-made forest in the Sahara Desert. The £3.3 million giant open-air greenhouse in Qatar will bring plant life to one of the most inhospitable spots on earth and it is all thanks to the humped mammal's nose. Using a trick of nature the Sahara Forest Project will use surface water and cold water pumped up from 200 metres below the sand to feed trees, vegetables and algae. The irrigation system will work in the same way as a camel's nostrils by constantly condensing water that the heat evaporates during the day. As the animal breaths out moist air, its nose instantly sucks it in and condenses keeping it alive in the harsh desert. Its nostrils also suck in water from the warm humid night air to keep it hydrated. Inspired by this designers say their 10,000 square metre project will use a similar idea, which they have already tested successfully. The hot desertair will evaporate surface water that appears overnight but strategicallyplaced hedges will cool it, keeping the greenhouse at a good temperature forgrowth. As this coolermoist air created by the hedges flows around the site it will hit the coldpipes containing water pumped from deep below the sand, instantly condensing itagain. This will thenprovide a constant source of moisture to feed and grow all the plants there. 'The PilotProject in Qatar will demonstrate the benefits of reducing waste streams intechnological systems. Our message is that it is possible to design solutionsthat are good for the environment, good for social development and that have along-term economic sustainability,' said Joakim Hauge, Norwegian CEO of TheSahara Forest Project. Sahara ForestProject's Michael Pawlyn, who was also one of the lead architects behindCornwall's Eden Project, told the New Scientist that exploiting the differencein temperature between surface seawater ensures the project is environmentallyfriendly. The vegetablesand algae grown could then be used for biomass production. Current plansfor the plant will see it operating as soon as July, receiving visitors duringthe COP18 Climate Talks to be held in Doha in November. 'The PilotProject is designed to fit in an approximately 10,000 m2 area and will consistof Seawater-based greenhouses, Concentrated solar power (CSP) for heat andelectricity, Evaporative hedges and ponds for reducing brine to dry salts,Algae cultivation facilities, Vegetated outdoor areas and Halophyte cultivationunits,' their design brief says.