Desertification: Causes, Impacts and Consequences
Desertification: Causes, Impacts and Consequences

Author: Roy H. Behnke

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2015-12-07

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9783642160134

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It now seems incontrovertible (as Alessandra Giannini has demonstrated) that the series of Sahelian droughts that began in the early 1970s were driven by changes in sea surface temperatures and that they were not caused by local land use mismanagement in the Sahel itself. Combined with the apparent re-greening of the Sahel, these findings effectively close a long-standing policy and scientific debate (in which the lead authors of this book participated) on the causes and extent of desertification in the Sahel. The opportunity now presents itself to treat this debate as a historical object lesson in the relationship between science, the formation of public opinion, and international policy-making in the context of climate change. In short, what might the ‘great Sahelian desertification boondoggle’ have to tell us about current attempts to come to grips with climate change?

Stewardship of Future Drylands and Climate Change in the Global South
Stewardship of Future Drylands and Climate Change in the Global South

Author: Simone Lucatello

Publisher: Springer Nature

Published: 2019-10-10

Total Pages: 370

ISBN-13: 3030224643

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This volume integrates a conceptual framework with participatory methodologies to understand the complexities of dryland socio-ecological systems, and to address challenges and opportunities for stewardship of future drylands and climate change in the global south. Through several case studies, the book offers a transdisciplinary and participatory approach to understand the complexity of socio-ecological systems, to co-produce accurate resource management plans for sustained stewardship, and to drive social learning and polycentric governance. This systemic framework permits the study of human-nature interrelationships through time and in particular contexts, with a focus on achieving progress in accordance with the 2030 United Nations Agenda for Sustainable Development. The book is divided into four main sections: 1) drylands and socio-ecological systems, 2) transdisciplinarity in drylands, 3) interculturality in drylands, and 4) the governance of drylands. Expert contributors address topics such as pastoralism and the characteristics of successful agricultural lands, the sustainable development goals and drylands, dryland modernization, and arid land governance with a focus on Mexico. The volume will be of interest to dryland researchers, sustainable development practitioners and policymakers.

Environmental Change in Drylands
Environmental Change in Drylands

Author: Andrew C. Millington

Publisher:

Published: 1994-06-30

Total Pages: 480

ISBN-13:

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Encompasses a wide-ranging selection of peer-reviewed papers covering geomorphology and biogeography including research which has sought to integrate the two disciplines. The main division of articles has been made in terms of timescales of the studies in which the majority of evidence presented relates to environments before the last 1000 years.

Dryland Climatology
Dryland Climatology

Author: Sharon E. Nicholson

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2011-10-27

Total Pages: 529

ISBN-13: 1139500244

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This book provides a comprehensive overview of dryland climates and their relationship to the physical environment, vegetation, hydrology, and inhabitants. Packed with photographs and an extensive review of the primary literature, this is a unique interdisciplinary resource for researchers, environmental professionals and advanced students in fields from climatology to geomorphology.

Dryland Opportunities
Dryland Opportunities

Author: Michael Mortimore

Publisher: World Conservation Union

Published: 2009

Total Pages: 100

ISBN-13:

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Drylands cover 41 percent of the earth' s terrestrial surface. The urgency of and international response to climate change have given a new place to drylands in terms both of their vulnerability to predicted climate change impacts and their potential contribution to climate change mitigation. This book aims to apply the new scientific insights on complex dryland systems to practical options for development. A new dryland paradigm is built on the resources and capacities of dryland peoples, on new and emergent economic opportunities, on inward investment, and on the best support that dryland science can offer.

The Biology of Arid Soils
The Biology of Arid Soils

Author: Blaire Steven

Publisher: Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co KG

Published: 2017-07-24

Total Pages: 329

ISBN-13: 3110419149

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Soils have been called the most complex microbial ecosystems on Earth. A single gram of soil can harbor millions of microbial cells and thousands of species. However, certain soil environments, such as those experiencing dramatic change exposing new initial soils or that are limited in precipitation, limit the number of species able to survive in these systems. In this respect, these environments offer unparalleled opportunities to uncover the factors that control the development and maintenance of complex microbial ecosystems. This book collects chapters that discuss the abiotic factors that structure arid and initial soil communities as well as the diversity and structure of the biological communities in these soils from viruses to plants.

Climate Variability Impacts on Land Use and Livelihoods in Drylands
Climate Variability Impacts on Land Use and Livelihoods in Drylands

Author: Mahesh K. Gaur

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2017-08-30

Total Pages: 362

ISBN-13: 3319566814

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This edited volume is devoted to the examination of the implications of the inevitable changes wrought by global change on the welfare and livelihoods of tens of millions of people who live in dryland regions. Global change is more than just climate change and the ramifications of changing trade patterns (geopolitical and economic aspects), the shift to the market economy, demographic factors (population growth, urbanization and re-settlement), receive attention here. Land use change specialists, policy makers and natural resource management agencies will find the book very useful. Chapters focus on examples that are drawn from a number of sources including previously unpublished studies on the impact of climate change, markets and economics on pastoralist and dryland farming households. The key focus is to provide readers with insights into the real world implications of change (including an analysis of the drivers of change) on these vulnerable groups within dryland societies. The role of humans as agents of these changes is canvassed. A regional analysis of the world's drylands is also performed including those in Australia, Argentina, India, North America, China, North Africa, Central Asia and Southern Africa.