Abstract
The term ‘desert’ has many meanings, but usually refers to an area with a certain climate, vegetation cover, or desolation. ‘Desertification’ is a vague and often confusing concept because of the many meanings of the term ‘desert’. The current definition by the United Nations confines desertification to arid areas. This rather narrow definition limits political and economic actions and constrains programs aimed at combating desertification or reversing land degradation. In this paper, an Icelandic case history is used to illustrate the limitations associated with climatologically-based definitions of desertification. Severe land degradation can lead to the formation of barren land, a desert, in any climate. Desertification is often initiated when ecosystem resilience is reduced through factors associated with drought and/or human activities. However, other factors, such as cold spells, extreme weather events, volcanic eruptions and other environmental stresses can be equally or more important. Severe degradation of ecosystems in Iceland has resulted in the formation of extensive barren deserts in spite of humid climate. The Icelandic example also illustrates that the loss of soil water storage capacity can be as serious a limitation to ecosystem function in humid climates as it is in dry climatic regimes.
It is argued that the climatologically-based definition of desertification used by the UN-Convention to Combat Desertification (UN-CCD) has many negative consequences. Severe land degradation is a global problem not restricted to arid zones. As a result of its narrow definition, the UN-CCD may hamper the development of international, social, political, and scientific programs aimed at combating desertification. Evolution of the CCD from its current regionally limited concept towards a more comprehensive framework which embraces all severe land degradation, is needed. Such an evolution would enhance communication, promote research and help to counter land degradation at the global level.
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Arnalds, O. (2000). Desertification: an appeal for a broader perspective. In: Arnalds, O., Archer, S. (eds) Rangeland Desertification. Advances in Vegetation Science, vol 19. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9602-2_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9602-2_2
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