DRYLAND DEVELOPMENT, DESERTIFICATION AND SECURITY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

Abstract

Bioclimatically, The Mediterranean basin comprises a transition between southern desert (Saharian-Arabian deserts) and northern non-desert (European woodlands). Using UNEP’s aridity classification, the political boundaries of all Mediterranean countries include the whole range of dryland types: from south to north, southern Mediterranean countries which are closer to the Sahara-Arabian deserts than the northern Mediterranean countries, have hyper-arid drylands (true deserts), semi-arid drylands, and dry-subhumid drylands; north Mediterranean countries have semi-arid drylands, dry subhumids drylands, and nondrylands regions – humid areas. The UNCCD does not regard hyper-arid drylands as prone to desertification, hence all Mediterranean countries have within their boundaries areas prone to desertification and areas not prone to desertification; in southern Mediterranean countries not prone to desertification are the southern-most and driest regions, and in the northern Mediterranean countries – these are the northern-most and driest region, and in the northern Mediterranean countries – these are the northern-most and least dry regions. The eastern Mediterranean countries – Israel, Lebanon and Syria combined, present the full southnorthen gradients of the global drylands. The southernmost of the three, Israel comprises all four dryland types within its boundaries with more than half of its territory prone to desertification, and the analysis of its development, desertification and security can serve as a case study with lessons to the Mediterranean region as a whole.