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

Conclusions

Although difficult, we have attempted to separate processes and consequences from causes of desertification. Also, a distinction has been made between socio-economic and political processes on the one hand and biophysical processes on the other. While this is also difficult, an emerging conclusion is apparent: the problems of desertification (i.e. those issues that are connected to dryland degradation) are more of a bio-physical nature (see section 4.2), while their causes can be both bio-physical and socio-economic or political. It may also be that the socio-economic consequences of desertification are not as obvious or visible as the bio-physical problems. This is an important conclusion as it shows (once again) that when trying to solve or avoid desertification problems, not only bio-physical aspects should be assessed. As the bio-physical problems are more visible, this could easily lead to the assumption that solutions should also be sought in that area. However, this synthesis of causes and problems has shown, that desertification is a complex issue and as such, simple solutions will not work (see Chapter 7).