Land Degradation in Mediterranean Environments of the World

Written by specialist and regional contributors, this invaluablebook provides an integrated, up-to-date, geographical assessment ofland degradation in the world's Mediterranean regions. Land degradation is the alteration of the natural (or biophysical)environment by human actions, causing detrimental effects to thevegetation, soils, landforms, water and ecosystems. Part One ofthis book comprises a brief geography of the Mediterranean climateregions - the Mediterranean basin, California, central Chile, theSouthwest Cape and Southern Australia, providing a context forParts Two and Three. The second section discusses the nature,extent, history, causes and implications of land degradation in theregions. Major problems include soil, vegetation and waterdegradation, fire, drought, flooding and sedimentation. Historicaland contemporary human responses to these problems are alsoconsidered and at times become part of the problem. Solutions -actual and potential - are evaluated in the third section andinclude those dealing with animals, cultivation, horticulture,engineering-type practices, agroforestry, whole farm planning,integrated catchment management and regional planning. Throughout there is an emphasis on the distinctive nature of theMediterranean-type environments - especially the seasonally, hot,dry climates, the species-rich and highly inflammable vegetation,steep topography and coastal orientations - and the ways in whichthese environments interact with human populations with theircontrasting histories and cultures to result in a special set ofenvironmental problems and response.

THE NATURE OF THE WORLD'S MEDITERRANEAN-TYPE ENVIRONMENTS Iberian Peninsul and Balearic Islands The South of France and Corsica Italy The Croatian Adriatic Coast Greece The Eastern Mediterranean North Africa Greater California Chile The Southwestern Cape of South Africa Southern Australia PROBLEMS OF LAND DEGRADATION Introduction The Main Problems of Land Degradation: Their Nature, Extent andSeverity: 1. Erosion and Soil Deterioration, Flooding, VegetationLoss and Degradation The Main Problems of Land Degradation: Their Nature, Extent andSeverity: 2. Drought, Water Shortages, and Water Quality, and otherForms of Degradation The Historical Development of Land Degradation in the MediterraneanWorld The Causes of Land Degradation 1. The Nature of the BiophysicalEnvironment The Causes of Land Degradation 2. Vegetation Clearing andAgricultural Practices The Causes of Land Degradation 3. Other Human Actions Some Broader Implications of Land Degradation SOLUTIONS TO LAND DEGRADATION Introduction Solutions dealing with Animals, Cultivation and HorticulturalPractices Technical Solutions Vegetation-Related Solutions Economic, Social, Agency and Policy Solutions. 1. The MediterraneanBasin Economic, Social, Agency and Policy Solutions 2. The NewWorld Summary and Conclusions