Desertification of Arid Lands

Desertification of Arid Lands PDF Author: Harold E. Dregne
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 9783718601684
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 264

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Book Description
First Published in 1983. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Desertification of Arid Lands

Desertification of Arid Lands PDF Author: Harold E. Dregne
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 9783718601684
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 264

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Book Description
First Published in 1983. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

The Arid Lands

The Arid Lands PDF Author: Diana K. Davis
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 0262034522
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 302

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Book Description
An argument that the perception of arid lands as wastelands is politically motivated and that these landscapes are variable, biodiverse ecosystems, whose inhabitants must be empowered. Deserts are commonly imagined as barren, defiled, worthless places, wastelands in need of development. This understanding has fueled extensive anti-desertification efforts—a multimillion-dollar global campaign driven by perceptions of a looming crisis. In this book, Diana Davis argues that estimates of desertification have been significantly exaggerated and that deserts and drylands—which constitute about 41% of the earth's landmass—are actually resilient and biodiverse environments in which a great many indigenous people have long lived sustainably. Meanwhile, contemporary arid lands development programs and anti-desertification efforts have met with little success. As Davis explains, these environments are not governed by the equilibrium ecological dynamics that apply in most other regions. Davis shows that our notion of the arid lands as wastelands derives largely from politically motivated Anglo-European colonial assumptions that these regions had been laid waste by “traditional” uses of the land. Unfortunately, such assumptions still frequently inform policy. Drawing on political ecology and environmental history, Davis traces changes in our understanding of deserts, from the benign views of the classical era to Christian associations of the desert with sinful activities to later (neo)colonial assumptions of destruction. She further explains how our thinking about deserts is problematically related to our conceptions of forests and desiccation. Davis concludes that a new understanding of the arid lands as healthy, natural, but variable ecosystems that do not necessarily need improvement or development will facilitate a more sustainable future for the world's magnificent drylands.

Physics of Desertification

Physics of Desertification PDF Author: F. El-Baz
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 9024732921
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 473

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Book Description
Deserts are parts of the Earth that receive little or no rain; 25 cm or less per year. The physical processes that act upon these parched lands are vastly different from those that shape the more humid parts of the terrestrial landmasses. In the desert, wind is a major agent of erosion and transportation. As the results of recent space missions have indicated, this is also true in the case of the planet Mars. Thus, our understanding of desert processes sheds light on fundamental planetary processes that may apply on any planetary body that is enveloped by a windy atmosphere. An understanding of the physical layout of arid lands, and the nature of processes that initiate changes therein is also fundamental to thoughtful utilization of these lands for the benefit of mankind. It is with this in mind that we prepared this book for publication. We believe that the collection of articles in this book will be useful to scientists who are interested in desert landforms and processes, and to planners of economic develop ment of arid lands. The book also serves as a guide for students as to the state of our knowledge in this field as well as to the topics that require additional research.

A Guide for Desert and Dryland Restoration

A Guide for Desert and Dryland Restoration PDF Author: David A. Bainbridge
Publisher: Island Press
ISBN: 1610910826
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 411

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Book Description
Dryland degradation and desertification now affect almost a billion people around the world. Tragically, the biological resources and productivity of millions of acres of land are lost to desertification each year because people remain unaware of strategies and techniques that could improve yields, reduce risk, and begin healing the world's deserts. A Guide for Desert and Dryland Restoration is the first book to offer practical, field-tested solutions to this critical problem. Author David Bainbridge has spent more than 25 years actively involved in restoring lands across the American Southwest. A Guide for Desert and Dryland Restoration presents the results of his years of fieldwork, as well as research and experience from scientists and practitioners around the globe. The book discusses the ecology of desert plants, explores the causes of desertification and land abuse, and outlines the processes and procedures needed to evaluate, plan, implement, and monitor desert restoration projects. It sets forth economical and practical field-tested solutions for understanding site characteristics, selecting and growing plants, and ensuring that they survive with a minimal amount of water and care. Each chapter represents a guide to a critical topic for environmental restoration; extensive photographs, diagrams and drawings give detailed information for immediate application, and additional resources are included in appendixes. A Guide for Desert and Dryland Restoration is the first comprehensive book focused on restoring arid regions, and clearly demonstrates that arid lands can be successfully rehabilitated. In addition to restorationists, the book will be an invaluable resource for anyone working in arid lands, including farmers, ranchers, gardeners, landscapers, outdoor recreation professionals, and activists.

Desertification

Desertification PDF Author: Michael H. Glantz
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 0429726228
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 264

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Book Description
The United Nations Water Conference (in Argentina in March 1977) and the United Nations Conference to Combat Desertification (in Kenya in August 1977) reflect the worldwide attention that recent global food shortages and growing populations have drawn to the destruction of arable and potentially arable land. This collection of articles focuses on a primary form of such destruction: desertification—the creation of desert-like conditions in arid or semiarid regions either by changes in climate patterns or by human mismanagement, or both. The contributors—representing a range of disciplines—examine and evaluate the social, political, economic, environmental, and technical problems related to the causes and effects of desertification.

Geomorphological Hazards and Disaster Prevention

Geomorphological Hazards and Disaster Prevention PDF Author: Irasema Alcántara
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 0521769256
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 305

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Book Description
A state-of-the-art assessment of how geomorphology contributes to the comprehension, mapping and modelling of hazardous Earth surface processes.

Combating Desertification and Land Degradation

Combating Desertification and Land Degradation PDF Author: Janet Hooke
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319444514
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 145

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Book Description
This book reports an approach developed to research and apply methods of assessing patterns of processes in the landscape, and suitability of different types of vegetation to mitigate soil erosion and sediment flux. Practical guidelines on a spatially strategic approach to management of land degradation at a range of spatial scales were produced. Originally developed for the Mediterranean environment, it has much wider potential global application. It provides researchers with methods to acquire the knowledge necessary for such an approach and provides practitioners with guidance on implementation and benefits of targeted methods of soil erosion control. It includes substantial information about processes and vegetation in the Mediterranean environment and the species effectiveness in soil erosion control.

Combating Desertification in Asia, Africa and the Middle East

Combating Desertification in Asia, Africa and the Middle East PDF Author: G. Ali Heshmati
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9400766521
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 491

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Book Description
This book is about the ‘how’ of desertification control as opposed to an analysis of the ‘why’ and fills a gap in the desertification-related literature in that it shows what to do in situations ranging from fixing mobile sands to arresting accelerated soil erosion in sloping lands. There are numerous illustrations to show the successful techniques. This compilation demonstrates that desertification and land degradation can be controlled and reversed with existing techniques in such widely varying environments as the Sahel of Africa to Sri Lanka and the Philippines in SE Asia, from mountains in Lesotho to low lands on desert margins in Mongolia. Proven approaches include technical interventions, changes in governance and to the legislative framework and policy reform. The book fills a gap in the desertification-related literature in that it shows what to do in situations ranging from fixing mobile sands to arresting accelerated soil erosion in sloping lands.

Functional Diversity of Mycorrhiza and Sustainable Agriculture

Functional Diversity of Mycorrhiza and Sustainable Agriculture PDF Author: Michael J. Goss
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 0128042869
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 255

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Book Description
Functional Diversity of Mycorrhiza and Sustainable Agriculture is the first book to present the core concepts of working with Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to improve agricultural crop productivity. Highlighting the use of indigenous AM fungi for agriculture, the book includes details on how to maintain and promote AM fungal diversity to improve sustainability and cost-effectiveness. As the need to improve production while restricting scarce inputs and preventing environmental impacts increases, the use of AMF offers an important option for exploiting the soil microbial population. It can enhance nutrient cycling and minimize the impacts of biotic and abiotic stresses, such as soil-borne disease, drought, and metal toxicity. The book offers land managers, policymakers, soil scientists, and agronomists a novel approach to utilizing soil microbiology in improving agricultural practices. - Provides a new approach to exploiting the benefits of mycorrhizas for sustainable arable agricultural production using indigenous AMF populations and adopting appropriate crop production techniques - Bridges the gap between soil microbiology, including increasing knowledge of mycorrhiza and agronomy - Presents real-world practical insights and application-based results, including a chapter focused primarily on case studies - Includes extensive illustrative diagrams and photographs

Land Degradation

Land Degradation PDF Author: A.J. Conacher
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9780792367703
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 404

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Book Description
Papers Selected from Contributions to the Sixth Meeting of the International Geographical Union's Commission on Land Degradation and Desertification, Perth, Western Australia, 20-28 September 1999