Desertification in the Arab Region

Challenges and Responses

The total surface area of the Arab region is around 14.2 million km2.

arid or desert. The remaining is dry land located within

characterized by a harsh climate

practices – e.g., over-grazing, over

mismanagement – are the main

desertification and is leading to substantial economic losses. Preventing desertificati

will require a holistic approach to land and water resources management.

Desertification in the Arab Region

Challenges and Responses

The total surface area of the Arab region is around 14.2 million km2. Ninety (90) percent

arid or desert. The remaining is dry land located within arid, semi-arid and dry sub

characterized by a harsh climate, water scarcity and rapidly degrading land resources. The use of inefficient

grazing, over-exploitation and inefficient use of water resources, deforestation and

the main causes of land degradation, which in this region is synonymous to

desertification and is leading to substantial economic losses. Preventing desertificati

will require a holistic approach to land and water resources management.

Desertification in the Arab Region

Challenges and Responses

Ninety (90) percent of this area is hyper-

arid and dry sub-humid zones and

water scarcity and rapidly degrading land resources. The use of inefficient

of water resources, deforestation and land

of land degradation, which in this region is synonymous to

desertification and is leading to substantial economic losses. Preventing desertification is a necessity, which

• Due to its geographical location, the Arab region has vast areas that are inhospitable to human settlements or agricultural activities as a result of

limited rainfall and high temperatures.

• 90% of the Arab land is hyper arid with an aridity indexi of less than 0.05.

While the remaining 10% is characterized as arid, semi-arid or dry sub-humid,

it is also referred to as dry-land, with an aridity index of less than 0.65;

• It is this last 10% of the land that constitutes one of the foundation pillars for socio-economic development in the region;

ii

• Land degradation affects more than 70% of the cultivable land;iii • Land degradation factors in the region include: iv

o Overgrazing (e.g., there are now four times more sheep in the region than

the land can sustain);

o Poor practices and loss of the vegetation, which lead to increased wind

and water erosion of the already scarce arable land;

o Over-exploitation and inefficient use of resources, (e.g., excessive

groundwater withdrawal, poor irrigation and drainage, salinization, etc.);

o Other factors including widespread urbanization and human settlements, road construction or mining and

quarrying all of which encroach on nearby arable land leading to their destruction.

• Inappropriate policies (e.g. subsidies) whose effect is compounded by catalyzers such as climatic change,

population growth, natural disasters or political tensions.

• Decrease in livelihoods and economic development, increase in food

insecurity, greater competition for dwindling resources and potential for

conflicts.

• Need to adopt appropriate integrated measures including among others:

o Developing and implementing sound strategies to mitigate and reverse land degradation;

o Promoting the rational use of resources notably land and water resources;

o Designing appropriate strategies and programmes for sustainable development;

o Raising awareness and building capacity at all levels.

i The aridity index is a numerical indicator of climate dryness at a given location estimated as the ratio of Precipitation (P) by Potential Evapotranspiration (PET). ii Saad, A.M.A. and N.M. Shariff. 2011. Estimating desertification in the Arab world using GIS approach. Middle East Journal of Scientific Research 8 (6): 1046-1053, IDOSI Publications. iii UNCCD. 2003. “Land degradation in Asia and activities related for UNCCD implementation.” Paper presented at the Sixth Regional

Meeting of Asian Focal Points, 7-9 June, 2003, Abu Dhabi. iv UNEP. 2002. “Global Environment Outlook 3: Past, present and future perspective.” Nairobi.

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) defines desertification as “Land degradation in arid, semi-arid

and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities” (UNCCD Art.1).

Amran, Yemen

Hajjah, Yemen

Challenges

Causes

Effects

Responses Ehden, Lebanon