Abstract
Land degradation, which affects the conservation of soil and water in adequate places, amounts and qualities, is the main direct cause ofdesertification. It is related to climate and soil characteristics, but mainly todeforestation and inappropriate use and management of natural resourcesincluding soil and water. The main effects are a decrease in water supply, anon sustainable agricultural and food production, and increased risks ofcatastrophic flooding, sedimentation, landslides, etc. In the medium or longterm, the previewed global climatic changes may contribute to acceleratethe processes of desertification in the Mediterranean Region, but in the shortterm, land use practices leading to soil degradation processes wouldincrease the negative influence of those changes.
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Sentís, I.P. (2006). HYDROLOGICAL APPROACH FOR ASSESSING DESERTIFICATION PROCESSES IN THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION. In: Kepner, W.G., Rubio, J.L., Mouat, D.A., Pedrazzini, F. (eds) Desertification in the Mediterranean Region. A Security Issue. NATO Security Through Science Series, vol 3. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3760-0_27
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