Desertification and land degradation: origins, processes and solutions

Table of Contents

1. Authors and acknowledgements
2. Introduction
   1. Aims
   2. Definitions and key concepts
   3. Synthesis of previous and ongoing projects
   4. Key issues and outline
3. Evolution of desertification in the Mediterranean
   1. Climatic fluctuation
   2. Human influence
4. Primary drivers of desertification
   1. Biophysical and socio-economic causes
   2. Pathways of desertification
   3. Driving forces in the Mediterranean
   4. Synthesis of causes for DESIRE hotspots
   5. Conclusions
5. Processes and consequences of desertification in the Mediterranean
   1. Socio-economic and political factors
   2. Biophysical processes
   3. Conclusions
6. Indicators: monitoring desertification
   1. History of monitoring
   2. Indicators
   3. Monitoring and mapping techniques
   4. Concluding remarks
7. Modelling desertification
   1. Definition of modelling
   2. Model types
   3. Biophysical modelling
   4. Socio-economic and participatory modelling
   5. Gaps and progression in modelling
8. Solutions
   1. Biophysical solutions
   2. Political and socio-economic solutions
9. References

Processes and consequences of desertification in the Mediterranean

In Chapter 3, the underlying causes of, and processes leading to, desertification are discussed. In this chapter, the processes and consequent problems of desertification are discussed. As the concept of desertification (see 1.2.1) is very broad, many environmental problems can be attributed to desertification (Martinez-Fernandez and Esteve, 2005). Here, we focus on the problems experienced in the Mediterranean area. However, they will be described in a general way. As knowledge of most problems is extensive, we refer to relevant papers rather than repeating them here. This chapter is divided in two parts: biophysical and socio-economic processes. However, it is not always possible to strictly divide problems in these categories, as interactions and feedback play a role. Examples include overgrazing and competition for water resources, so the division should not be seen as strict, but rather as a way of structuring occurring problems. Also, as Conacher and Sala (1998) rightly state, a particular desertification problem does not exist on its own, which often makes it difficult to isolate the most serious problems. This is why in this chapter, both processes and consequences are discussed.