WIT Press

European Desertification

Price

Free (open access)

Volume

31

Pages

15

Published

1998

Size

1,605 kb

Paper DOI

10.2495/RISK980011

Copyright

WIT Press

Author(s)

J.L. Rubio, L. Recatala & V. Andrew

Abstract

Desertification refers to land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities. Areas affected by desertification processes lose progressively their level of biological quality and productivity. In Europe, desertification processes affect approximately 10% of the total land area. The Mediterranean and Eastern European Regions are specially threatened by desertification due to natural and economic pressures. This paper deals with the factors and causes of desertification at European level. The most important impacts and consequences of desertification processes are outlined. Finally, th

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