and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors,
including climatic variations and human activities”
(UNCCD, Article 1, 1994). All these definitions agree that
desertification can be caused by the complexity of climate
variations and human activities. MEA (2005) stated that
desertification is caused by a combination of factors, which
change over time and vary by location.
Desertification occurs in drylands around the world and
its impacts are felt locally, nationally, regionally, and globally. Drylands occupy 41% of Earth’s land area where more
than 2 billion people live. This represents a third of the
human population in the year 2000. The drylands include all
terrestrial regions where water scarcity limits the production
of crops, forage, wood, and other ecosystem provisioning
services.
Human pressures on the environment and climate crises
are the main reasons for the degradation of natural resources.
These crises lead to social changes, modified consumption
habits, the search for non-farming work, and temporary labor
migration, as well as the sale of productive assets and permanent migration. Societies affected by desertification suffer
declining incomes and decreasing food security (UNCCD
2007). Drought and desertification are at the core of serious
challenges and threats facing sustainable development in
Africa. These problems have far-reaching adverse impacts
on human health, food security, economic activity, physical
infrastructure, natural resources and the environment, and
national and global security.
The African continent is the most affected by land
degradation and desertification. Reich et al. (2001) stated
that desertification processes affect about 46% of Africa.
This number is very important, taking into consideration that
about 43% of the continent is characterized as extreme
deserts. Only about 11% of the land can be excluded from
desertification processes. Rising temperatures are forecasted
by IPCC in North Africa which could have a severe impact
on the regions including Libya. This could have an impact
on the regions already facing stressed resources including
water and food (IPCC 2007). In addition to climate change,
misuse of water and soil resources, urbanization, overgrazing, removal of natural vegetation, and rapid changes in land
use are important reasons for increasing land degradation
and desertification in Libya. This chapter discusses the
causes and effects of land degradation and desertification and
effort to combat desertification and land degradation in
Libya.
8.2 Desertification Land Degradation
and Status in Libya
According to The National Plan to Combat Desertification
(ACSAD and Libyan experts 2005), much of Libya’s agricultural land is under pressure from either soil erosion, loss
of natural vegetation cover, or over-use of irrigation water.
Problems such as soil salinity and rising groundwater all
appear to be on the rise. The environmental impacts of
agricultural activity are the result of a complex chain of
biophysical and other factors, which are linked to the natural
characteristics of the land. The total land degradation areas
from 1981 to 2006 were about 1,024,053 km
2 (Table 8.1).
Libya is suffering from desertification in various types
and degrees. It can be noted that many areas of Libya were
exposed to the over-use of the natural resources which led to
their deterioration and the acceleration of desertification
problems in these areas. The types and aspects of desertification in Libya are as follows (Ben Mahmoud 2013).
8.2.1 Soil Erosion by Wind
It is considered to be the most common environmental
problem in Libya with respect to the loss of the fertile surface layer or the problems caused by the transfer,
encroachment, and fall of the sands, especially for the
population centers in addition to their adverse effects on
public health.
8.2.2 Soil Erosion by Water
This phenomenon leads to the loss of the fertile surface layer
and the transfer of large quantities of soils to other sites
leaving rocks, shallow soils, or bare lands. The eroded
materials settle in certain areas behind the dams or in the
agricultural fields, causing destruction and forming another
deterioration aspect.
8.2.3 Loss of Nutrients
The agricultural intensification and failure to abide by the
agricultural instructions lead to the decline of soil fertility
and the loss of vast areas of the agricultural lands. The loss
Table 8.1 Statistics of degrading areas in Libya (1981–2006) based on (GTZ 2009)
Country
Area in (km
2
)
% Total population
LD areas (km
2
)
Improved areas (km
2
)
Affected people
Libya
1.759.540
6.310.434
1024052.28
527.86
14651730
120
B. A. Nwer et al.
including climatic variations and human activities”
(UNCCD, Article 1, 1994). All these definitions agree that
desertification can be caused by the complexity of climate
variations and human activities. MEA (2005) stated that
desertification is caused by a combination of factors, which
change over time and vary by location.
Desertification occurs in drylands around the world and
its impacts are felt locally, nationally, regionally, and globally. Drylands occupy 41% of Earth’s land area where more
than 2 billion people live. This represents a third of the
human population in the year 2000. The drylands include all
terrestrial regions where water scarcity limits the production
of crops, forage, wood, and other ecosystem provisioning
services.
Human pressures on the environment and climate crises
are the main reasons for the degradation of natural resources.
These crises lead to social changes, modified consumption
habits, the search for non-farming work, and temporary labor
migration, as well as the sale of productive assets and permanent migration. Societies affected by desertification suffer
declining incomes and decreasing food security (UNCCD
2007). Drought and desertification are at the core of serious
challenges and threats facing sustainable development in
Africa. These problems have far-reaching adverse impacts
on human health, food security, economic activity, physical
infrastructure, natural resources and the environment, and
national and global security.
The African continent is the most affected by land
degradation and desertification. Reich et al. (2001) stated
that desertification processes affect about 46% of Africa.
This number is very important, taking into consideration that
about 43% of the continent is characterized as extreme
deserts. Only about 11% of the land can be excluded from
desertification processes. Rising temperatures are forecasted
by IPCC in North Africa which could have a severe impact
on the regions including Libya. This could have an impact
on the regions already facing stressed resources including
water and food (IPCC 2007). In addition to climate change,
misuse of water and soil resources, urbanization, overgrazing, removal of natural vegetation, and rapid changes in land
use are important reasons for increasing land degradation
and desertification in Libya. This chapter discusses the
causes and effects of land degradation and desertification and
effort to combat desertification and land degradation in
Libya.
8.2 Desertification Land Degradation
and Status in Libya
According to The National Plan to Combat Desertification
(ACSAD and Libyan experts 2005), much of Libya’s agricultural land is under pressure from either soil erosion, loss
of natural vegetation cover, or over-use of irrigation water.
Problems such as soil salinity and rising groundwater all
appear to be on the rise. The environmental impacts of
agricultural activity are the result of a complex chain of
biophysical and other factors, which are linked to the natural
characteristics of the land. The total land degradation areas
from 1981 to 2006 were about 1,024,053 km
2 (Table 8.1).
Libya is suffering from desertification in various types
and degrees. It can be noted that many areas of Libya were
exposed to the over-use of the natural resources which led to
their deterioration and the acceleration of desertification
problems in these areas. The types and aspects of desertification in Libya are as follows (Ben Mahmoud 2013).
8.2.1 Soil Erosion by Wind
It is considered to be the most common environmental
problem in Libya with respect to the loss of the fertile surface layer or the problems caused by the transfer,
encroachment, and fall of the sands, especially for the
population centers in addition to their adverse effects on
public health.
8.2.2 Soil Erosion by Water
This phenomenon leads to the loss of the fertile surface layer
and the transfer of large quantities of soils to other sites
leaving rocks, shallow soils, or bare lands. The eroded
materials settle in certain areas behind the dams or in the
agricultural fields, causing destruction and forming another
deterioration aspect.
8.2.3 Loss of Nutrients
The agricultural intensification and failure to abide by the
agricultural instructions lead to the decline of soil fertility
and the loss of vast areas of the agricultural lands. The loss
Table 8.1 Statistics of degrading areas in Libya (1981–2006) based on (GTZ 2009)
Country
Area in (km
2
)
% Total population
LD areas (km
2
)
Improved areas (km
2
)
Affected people
Libya
1.759.540
6.310.434
1024052.28
527.86
14651730
120
B. A. Nwer et al.