Manual for describing land degradation indicators

Table of Contents

1. Editor
2. Introduction
3. Classification of indicators
4. Land degradation indicators
   1. List of indicators related to desertification
   2. List of indicators with classification of values
5. Evaluation and short-list of indicators
6. Explanations for filling the information sheets
7. Farm survey research
8. Focus group approach
9. References

List of indicators related to desertification

Table. 1. List of candidate indicators related to causes or processes of land degradation and desertification in the pilot areas

PHYSICAL AND ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS

Climate

Water

Soils

Vegetation

Water runoff

Fires

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Agriculture

Cultivation

Husbandry

Land management

Land use

Water use

Tourism

SOCIAL INDICATORS

INSTITUTIONAL INDICATORS

Each indicator has been described by defining distinct classes. The classes has been assigned using existing classification systems such as the European geo-referenced soil data base, or existing research data as DIS4ME. The various classes of the indicators used have been organized according to the importance to land degradation and desertification risk (Table 2). Based on Table 1, indicators will be selected for each process or cause for collecting data in each pilot area. In all study areas, survey research will be conducted for different land use types (such as olive groves, vineyards, cereals, almonds, cotton, pastures, oak forests, pine forests, etc.) representative of Mediterranean environmental conditions. The included State indicators will allow monitoring the success of mitigation measures, and which will probably need to be tailored for maximum sensitivity to each particular technique. Driver and pressure indicators will focus on conditions where remedial intervention may be needed to prevent desertification. The datasets collected for the various indicators will be included in the Harmonised Database System (HIS) that is developed in WB6.