Present situation of desertification and its research in the world.

Abstract

The author explains the present situation and the problems of desertification in the world using a distribution map prepared by Hopkins and Jones (1983) showing the degree of desertification hazards. Describes the results obtained from a case study in South-East Spain and a semiarid region of northeastern Brazil. Overviews the previous research on desertification from the viewpoint of definition, causes reversibility or irreversibility, and degradation of tropical forests.-from Author