The most prominent natural attractions in the country are
the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean coast (General
Water Authority 2014). In general, the topography of Libya
slopes gently to the north. The mountains, which are located
in the north-west, north-east, south, and central parts of the
country, and are of low to medium latitudes (CEDARE
2014). The only hills are located near the border with Chad,
where the Tibesti mountain massif rises to over 2,200 m.
Only the coastal area, which accounts for 2% of the surface
area, is suitable for agricultural activities. The fertile lands of
the Jafara Plain in the north-west and Al Jabal Al Akhdar in
the north-east account for more than 80% of food production
from agriculture, which mostly depends on rainfall and
groundwater. The remaining area consists of sand or gravel
dunes, mountains, or marshes (salt marshes) with some
scattered oases (Fig. 1.3).
The last census in 2006 estimated the population of Libya
at 5.75 million (0.8 million non-Libyans) (LIB/00/004 2009;
Zurqani et al. 2019). According to the United Nations World
Population Prospects, this number increased to 6.87 million
by June 2020 (World Population Review 2020). It is
expected to reach 9 million people by 2030 (Environment
General Authority 2008), which will increase the pressure on
resources, especially food, water, and energy. The majority
of the population lives along the Mediterranean coast, with a
large proportion of them residing in major cities such as
Tripoli and Benghazi.
1.2 Soil-Related Challenges in Libya
and Potential Solutions
Libya is experiencing a severe problem of land degradation
and desertification,
with one of the highest levels of deterioration in the world
(43.7%) (Zurqani et al. 2019). Ongoing rapid urbanization
along with the loss of fertile soil, the continued overexploitation of water resources, and overgrazing and the
destruction of natural vegetation are the main causes of these
environmental problems in the region.
1.2.1 Erosion
Soil erosion processes by both water and wind are one of the
major soil environmental problems in the country and are
responsible for land degradation. The harsh climatic conditions in Libya, including the shortage of land receiving
sufficient rainfall beside a dry season of more than six
months, have led to reduced vegetation, increased soil erosion, and widespread land degradation and made the region
vulnerable to desertification. As a result, the region is traditionally classified as areas with high potential erosion
rates. In spring and autumn, strong southerly winds that are
locally known as (Gibli) blow from the desert, filling the air
Fig. 1.2 Map of the annual
rainfall in Libya adapted from
(Yigini et al. 2013)
1 Introduction
3
the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean coast (General
Water Authority 2014). In general, the topography of Libya
slopes gently to the north. The mountains, which are located
in the north-west, north-east, south, and central parts of the
country, and are of low to medium latitudes (CEDARE
2014). The only hills are located near the border with Chad,
where the Tibesti mountain massif rises to over 2,200 m.
Only the coastal area, which accounts for 2% of the surface
area, is suitable for agricultural activities. The fertile lands of
the Jafara Plain in the north-west and Al Jabal Al Akhdar in
the north-east account for more than 80% of food production
from agriculture, which mostly depends on rainfall and
groundwater. The remaining area consists of sand or gravel
dunes, mountains, or marshes (salt marshes) with some
scattered oases (Fig. 1.3).
The last census in 2006 estimated the population of Libya
at 5.75 million (0.8 million non-Libyans) (LIB/00/004 2009;
Zurqani et al. 2019). According to the United Nations World
Population Prospects, this number increased to 6.87 million
by June 2020 (World Population Review 2020). It is
expected to reach 9 million people by 2030 (Environment
General Authority 2008), which will increase the pressure on
resources, especially food, water, and energy. The majority
of the population lives along the Mediterranean coast, with a
large proportion of them residing in major cities such as
Tripoli and Benghazi.
1.2 Soil-Related Challenges in Libya
and Potential Solutions
Libya is experiencing a severe problem of land degradation
and desertification,
with one of the highest levels of deterioration in the world
(43.7%) (Zurqani et al. 2019). Ongoing rapid urbanization
along with the loss of fertile soil, the continued overexploitation of water resources, and overgrazing and the
destruction of natural vegetation are the main causes of these
environmental problems in the region.
1.2.1 Erosion
Soil erosion processes by both water and wind are one of the
major soil environmental problems in the country and are
responsible for land degradation. The harsh climatic conditions in Libya, including the shortage of land receiving
sufficient rainfall beside a dry season of more than six
months, have led to reduced vegetation, increased soil erosion, and widespread land degradation and made the region
vulnerable to desertification. As a result, the region is traditionally classified as areas with high potential erosion
rates. In spring and autumn, strong southerly winds that are
locally known as (Gibli) blow from the desert, filling the air
Fig. 1.2 Map of the annual
rainfall in Libya adapted from
(Yigini et al. 2013)
1 Introduction
3