The Labyrinth of Desertification : Sixteen Case Studies in Spain / edited by Jaime Martínez-Valderrama, Jorge Olcina Cantos.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Valderrama, J. M., Editor.

Olcina Cantos, Jorge, Editor.

Series:

Biomedical and Life Sciences Series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Landscape ecology.

Human ecology--Study and teaching.

Human ecology.

Forests and forestry.

Agriculture.

Landscape Ecology.

Environmental Studies.

Forestry.

Local Subjects:

Landscape Ecology.

Environmental Studies.

Forestry.

Agriculture.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (XX, 178 p. 70 illus. in color.)

Edition:

1st ed. 2026.

Place of Publication:

Cham : Springer Nature Switzerland : Imprint: Springer, 2026.

Summary:

This open access book presents sixteen case studies from Spain to explore the complex realities of landscapes and situations commonly linked to desertification. The term desertification, burdened by its colonial origins, is often misunderstood, frequently reduced to the idea of deserts expanding or seen as a flaw in arid landscapes that must be "corrected" through greening efforts. Despite decades of conceptual refinement leading to a precise definition, the term remains widely misinterpreted in both public discourse and academic contexts. Moreover, there is still no standardized methodology for measuring it. The 2018 edition of the World Atlas of Desertification exemplifies this conceptual ambiguity: paradoxically, it does not include a single map explicitly showing desertification. This book seeks to cut through that ambiguity by using clearly defined case studies to foster a deeper understanding, an essential first step toward addressing the issue effectively. These case studies illustrate the specific criteria that must be met for a situation to be classified as desertification. Escaping this conceptual labyrinth is key to laying the foundation for coherent and effective solutions. This book is an essential reading for researchers, scholars, and policymakers in environmental science, geography, and related disciplines. It offers valuable insights for anyone interested in understanding and tackling the urgent challenge of land degradation in arid and semi-arid regions.

Contents:

Preface

Prologue

Chapter 1:A Framework of Conceptual Principles for Addressing Desertification

Chapter 2:Droughts, Aridity and Desertification: The Role of Climate Variations

Chapter 3: Badlands, What Is Not Desertification

Chapter 4:The Harms and Benefits of Dust

Chapter 5:Shrub Encroachment in Drylands: Scientific Basis Regarding its Positive and Detrimental Effects

Chapter 6: Wildfires and Desertification: The Role of Fire Regime

Chapter 7: Plant Invasions as a Symptom and Driver of Degradation

Chapter 8: Forest Mortality: How Tree Death Can Accelerate Desertification

Chapter 9: Moving Livestock to Reverse Desertification Landscapes

Chapter 10: The Dehesa: A Cultural Landscape Facing Future Challenges

Chapter 11: Desertification Due to Agricultural Land Abandonment

Chapter 12:Tourism and Water Stress: A Worrying Convergence in Time and Place

Chapter 13: Inherited Desertification: Mining, Deforestation and Abandonment in the Sierra de Gádor Mountains (Almería)

Chapter 14: Irrigation as a Source of Development and Degradation

Chapter 15: Desertification in Olive Orchards: A Complex Challenge for a Diverse Agricultural System

Chapter 16: Hiding Desertification with Technology: Irrigation and Water Imbalance in Southern Spain

Chapter 17: The Global Trade of Degradation Distorts the Scope of Desertification

Chapter 18: Conclusions.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

3-032-09648-0

9783032096487

OCLC:

1569885149