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Prospects for Desertification Impacts for Egypt and Libya

  • Conference paper
Environmental Challenges in the Mediterranean 2000–2050

Part of the book series: NATO Science Series ((NAIV,volume 37))

Abstract

New deserts are forming in some areas of the world [38]. This process is referred to as “desertification”. For most people, the term conjures up an image, an emotive picture of inexorably shifting sands encroaching on valuable farmland [5]. But is the desert really expanding? An increasing number of scientists are now arguing that the image associated with “desertification” is a mirage. There is no general consensus regarding the definition, causes, or impact of desertification. Desertification has been defined in many different ways by researchers in different disciplines, which have included soil scientists, hydrologists, agronomists, veterinarians, economists and anthropologists. Most definitions of desertification, therefore, vary according to the judgment and expertise of the researchers involved. Whereas some researchers consider desertification to be a great danger to the sustainable development of arid and semi-arid areas, others doubt that the phenomenon occurs at all. These different opinions on desertification are mainly due to the lack of an overall concept, the dearth of information available at global and regional levels and the different objectives and interests of the countries in the north and south.

This paper is drawn from the Discussion Paper published by the Center for Development Research of Bonn University by the same author in 1999

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

    M. Nasr

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  1. M. Nasr
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of International Studies, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain

    Antonio Marquina

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Nasr, M. (2004). Prospects for Desertification Impacts for Egypt and Libya. In: Marquina, A. (eds) Environmental Challenges in the Mediterranean 2000–2050. NATO Science Series, vol 37. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0973-7_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0973-7_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-1949-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-007-0973-7

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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