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Desertification and Land Degradation in Indian Subcontinent: Issues, Present Status and Future Challenges

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Climate Variability Impacts on Land Use and Livelihoods in Drylands

Abstract

The Indian subcontinent, comprising of seven countries, is heavily populated and has a large area under desertification and land degradation. The extent and severity of land degradation vary across this vast land area. The terms, desert, desertification, land degradation and degraded lands/wastelands have been elaborated. The causes, both proximal and underlying as well as the consequences of desertification are discussed. Indicators for mapping, monitoring and assessment of desertification and land degradation has been discussed. Methodology for mapping and monitoring of desertification and land degradation in the Indian sub continent, using satellite data, has been presented.

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Acknowledgement

Authors are thankful to CSIR, India for support under ES scheme and to Mr Tapan Misra, Director, Space Applications Centre for his guidance and support

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. E S- CSIR, Space Applications Centre, ISRO, Ahmedabad, India

    Ajai

  2. TALEEM Research Foundation, Ahmedabad, India

    P. S. Dhinwa

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  1. Ajai
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Correspondence to Ajai .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India

    Mahesh K. Gaur

  2. Institute of Desertification Studies, Beijing, China

    Victor R. Squires

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Ajai, Dhinwa, P.S. (2018). Desertification and Land Degradation in Indian Subcontinent: Issues, Present Status and Future Challenges. In: Gaur, M., Squires, V. (eds) Climate Variability Impacts on Land Use and Livelihoods in Drylands. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56681-8_9

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