Deserts, Land Use and Desertification

Abstract

Deserts are arid areas on the globe where plant growth is scarce. The lack of water during longer periods is due to climatic conditions. This is known from all parts of the climatic temperature zones of the globe. Deserts and their adjacent semidesertic regions, such as the Sahara, the Negev and Sinai, the Namib, the Atacama and Altiplano, Central Australia, the Mohave in Southwestern USA, the Kyzylkum and Aralkum, and the Kawir in Iran and the Afghan deserts often exhibit severe changes in their environmental design according to human impact. Fluvial and aeolian soil erosion, enhanced salinity by waterlogging, pollution by pesticides and other toxics, thus, the loss of productive areas, are some of the severe effects of inadequate use by man. Desertification often takes place by this human influence in ecotopic areas where a shift to desertic conditions by a slight change in environmental factors may cause a severe additional degradation