Desertification in southern Europe

Abstract

The threat of desertification appears in southern Europe when periods of prolonged drought are followed by torrential rains falling on steep, unstable terrain. The plant cover of many regions has been degraded since very ancient times. Some are now recovering as a result of emigration and reduce pressure on the land. Tourist and commercial agricultural developments threaten habitat values and water supplies, especially in certain coastal areas. Relatively abundant archeological and literary resources offer excellent opportunities for tracing land use histories and throwing more light on the nature and direction of environmental change. Such longitudinal studies should be integrated with remote sensing and nested sampling on the ground of current landscape conditions and monitoring of current processes.