DESERTIFICATION, TERRITORY AND PEOPLE, A HOLISTIC APPROACH IN THE PORTUGUESE CONTEXT

Abstract

The paper discusses some basic concepts relative to desertification processes that support a more holistic approach to the problems faced in the country. A concept where land is seen as a territory and where land and water resources combine with human resources and opportunities for development is assumed. The identification of areas susceptible to desertification is described and the insufficiency of used indicators is discussed, mainly in relation to the climatic driving forces including droughts. Observations referring to vulnerability indicators show that the desertification processes affect large areas or territories where water resources are scarce, soil resources are often poor and non-agricultural vegetation is far from climax. Furthermore, natural resources seem do not respond anymore to the demand of the modern society particularly concerning agriculture. Thus, former equilibriums in land use and land condition are broken or tend to be disrupted while the population in these areas shows less capability to reverse the present situation. In areas susceptible to desertification, population density is very low and the respective growth rate is highly negative, aging is increasing with the dependency on aged people, illiteracy is above average, and the purchasing power of population is much lower than average. A desertification cycle and issues to reverse the situation are discussed. These include the need for the society to understand that policies to combat desertification shall focus the populations with priority over the environment in order to re-establish or create new equilibriums. The need for public participation, innovation on local political functioning, regionalization, development of public awareness, and education are also discussed.