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

Indicators: monitoring desertification

As has been stated in the introduction (Chapter 1), the knowledge on current land degradation status or the magnitude of the potential hazard is mostly incomplete or fragmentary, and for some areas even entirely lacking (Pinet et al., 2006). It is essential to understand the extent of the desertification problem. Mapping the affected areas is not only needed for developing a more thorough scientific understanding of the dynamic processes and driving forces, it also forms an important requirement for the drafting and implementation of development plans and policy decisions about the sustainable use of Mediterranean land resources (Hill et al., 1995; Lacaze et al., 1996).

However, the environmental, social and economic complexities of land degradation make accurate assessment a difficult challenge, especially in dynamic semi-arid environments. Existing methods of degradation assessment rarely integrate different components of land degradation, focusing instead on single issues or academic disciplines. In particular, research to date has focussed on soil degradation, in particular on erosion rather than on solutions (van Lynden and Kuhlmann, 2002). In addition to this, it is often difficult to detect trends in degradation status over time, due to the use of unreplicable or incomparable methods. Assessments tend to be carried out by researchers for use by the local policy and academic communities. Local communities rarely participate, or receive results that can improve the sustainability of their land management. Acknowledging these limitations, researchers are increasingly recognising the value of multi-scale, multi-method studies that can assess degradation in the context of heterogeneous and dynamic local socio-economic, cultural and environmental conditions (LADA, 2001, 2004; Warren, 2002).

Different methods exist for evaluating desertification, including direct observation and measurement, mathematical models and parametric equations, estimates, remote sensing and indicators (Rubio and Bochet, 1998). While the mathematical modelling is dealt with in the next chapter, desertification indicators are assessed in this chapter, including techniques to monitor and map them.