Land degradation indicators
An integrated approach, which incorporates indicators from many different sources with stage of land degradation and desertification and effectiveness of the various land management practices, has been developed. The provided list of indicator (Table 1) has been formed by (a) reviewing literature, (b) consulting the various groups of DESIRE project. A review has been made on previous or ongoing research projects on the indicator concepts and systems relevant to desertification including indicators such as MEDALUS, MEDRAP, DESERTLINKS (DIS4ME indicator database). The most effective basis on indicators related to desertification has been developed in DESERTLINKS (system DIS4ME). A long list of indicators has been described under certain format and examples of how to use them (ESI- Expert system for evaluating the Environmental Sensitivity Index of a local area, assessing desertification risk, ManPrAs a tool for Agricultural Management Practices Assessment, etc.). Furthermore, focus group meetings have been initiated in which participants have been asked to provide their opinion about environmental security and the use of indicators for protection against desertification. This approach was successfully demonstrated in the stakeholders meeting held in pilot area of Crete. The wide list of indicators of Table 1 has considered related indicators for the various processes and causes affecting desertification. Such processes or factors identified for the various pilot areas are: (a) soil erosion including water, tillage and wind erosion, (b) soil salinization, (c) water stress, (d) forest fires, and (e) urbanization. The proposed indicators that can be used at local (field site) or regional (municipality) conditions are presented in Table 1.
