This week on Earth Beat, sushi and sand. Not together - they don't mix well – so we'll start in the desert. We'll take you from Lagos to Timbuktu to hear from people trying to stop the desert spreading, those who say it's getting greener, and one man who wants to built a wall across it. Then we'll take you to the ocean for a little sustainable sushi dressed in salmon leather.

Desert Warriors
A reality TV show called Desert Warriors is gripping viewers in Nigeria and Niger as 50 candidates are put through their paces in the sands of the Sahara. 15 days and nights of tent-living, gruelling endurance tests, and environmental challenges. The prize? A lump of cash, a jeep, and status as an environmental ambassador. Dooter Malu and Catherine Ogechi are just back from their adventure and speak to Marnie from Lagos.

Listen to the conversation

The original desert warrior
Heading up the panel of judges for Desert Warrior is Dr Newton Jibunoh. Now in his 70s he's considered one of Nigeria's most influential environmentalists. For the last 40 years he’s been trying to highlight the issues of climate change and human impact on the desert in Africa but found his campaigning had little impact. But is reality TV the best medium for his cause?

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Greening on the ground
Satellite pictures have shown that the desert is getting greener, but what does that actually mean on the ground? To find out, reporter Anna Boiko-Weyrauch went to Timbuktu, in Mali, West Africa and rode into the desert.

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The Great Wall… of the Sahara?
A young architect has come up with a novel idea to transform the harsh environment of the Sahara. Magnus Larsson wants to construct a wall crossing the desert from Mauritania in the West to Djibuti in the East – that’s 6000 km – using sand to protect sand. The dunes will be turned into solid architecture using bacteria to create sandstone. Marnie asks why he’s so fascinated with sand.

Listen to the answer

And watch Magnus Larsson give a TED talk about his ideas

Sustainable sushi
The oceans are emptying – there could be almost nothing left to fish within 50 years if things don’t change. It would be catastrophic for the entire world’s ecosystem and cause massive social and economic upheaval, but, perhaps equally important, we could no longer eat sushi. Marnie talks to two men dedicated to saving both the ecosystem and our dinner options: Casson Trenor, Greenpeace fisheries expert and author of the book and blog Sustainable Sushi, and Hajime Sato, the first traditionally-trained Japanese sushi chef to go sustainable at his restaraunt Mashiko.

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Salmon leather
There’s lots wrong with the fishing industry, but one big problem is the rampant waste. Now a company called Nanai has come up with a way to use the salmon skin that is usually thrown away after the delicious flesh has been processed. It's as strong as cow leather, exotic as snake skin, light, tear-resistant, all-natural, and made without using harmful chemicals. Salmon leather has caused waves in the luxury design world, where it's being turned into shoes, clothes, furniture and even wallpaper. Susan Stone reports from Berlin.

Listen to the report

And a contest!
Susan has sent us a couple salmon skin dog biscuit samples… since the Earth Beat team is currently dogless, they’re up for grabs. We don’t need you to bed – just send a photo of your pup (or you) looking deserving, and we’ll give your dog a bone. And some Earth Beat goodies for you too. Send your emails to . Better yet, post your pics to our facebook page.

NEXT WEEK ON EARTH BEAT

On next week’s edition of Earth Beat, find out what’s real and what’s a boldfaced lie when it comes to the labels on your products. "If you see a vague claim like, eco friendly, environmentally friendly, green, stop right there. Those vague claims do not mean anything." Also, when war is good for the environment. That’s in the next edition of Earth Beat from Radio Netherlands Worldwide.