M. Dubast : Desertification of Mediterranean and Mountainous Regions
2 THE ApPROACH TO DESERTIFICATION ISSUES IN
THE MEDITERRANEAN MOUNTAINS
193
Addressing the role of mountainous areas in the desertification process around the
Mediterranean basin is a key issue for this region.
As evidenced by the presentation of major threats to the Mediterranean future and
the present and active degradation processes in the mountainous areas, maintaining
the capacity of mountains as primary water sources is highly critical.
2. 1 The concept of desertification
The concept of desertification is a matter of controversy. A broad definition would
include the concept of non-reversibility or non-recovering capacity in the
degradation processes that affect primary resources vital to human life, such as
vegetation, soil and water.
This conception implies the interaction between human and natural processes, and
a wide range of desertification types could be described according to the factors
involved in human societies and natural environments.
Good descriptions and case studies of resource degradation are available from the
Mediterranean region, but an overall understanding is actually missing, as is a
theoretical framework to help analyze the multiple-sided issue of desertification.
Some research projects offer an opportunity to compare several study areas by
different methods throughout the Mediterranean region.
2.2 The example of the MEDIMONT research project
MEDIMONT is an example of such a project. It is a multi-national and multidisciplinary research program on the role and place of the mountains in the
desertification process of the Mediterranean regions, selected for support by the
European Community Directorate General for Research, within the frame of its
Environment program. This program includes a specific chapter on desertification.
The main objectives of MEDIMONT are to understand the desertification process
in the Mediterranean mountains, under various natural and human conditions, and
to produce guidelines for a rational management of such areas, including
prevention, monitoring and appropriate policies for sustainable development. The
project is a combination of local and regional-scale investigations.
At the local scale a series of multi-disciplinary case studies is carried out in
pilot zones, to study the phenomenon, identify criteria, develop guide lines, but
also give evidence of the diversity, the similarities and dissimilarities among the
study areas.
At the regional scale, the work is completed by some general approaches to
include the local case studies in a consistent overview, extrapolate findings,
possible applications and recommendations from the local to the regional-scale
level.
2 THE ApPROACH TO DESERTIFICATION ISSUES IN
THE MEDITERRANEAN MOUNTAINS
193
Addressing the role of mountainous areas in the desertification process around the
Mediterranean basin is a key issue for this region.
As evidenced by the presentation of major threats to the Mediterranean future and
the present and active degradation processes in the mountainous areas, maintaining
the capacity of mountains as primary water sources is highly critical.
2. 1 The concept of desertification
The concept of desertification is a matter of controversy. A broad definition would
include the concept of non-reversibility or non-recovering capacity in the
degradation processes that affect primary resources vital to human life, such as
vegetation, soil and water.
This conception implies the interaction between human and natural processes, and
a wide range of desertification types could be described according to the factors
involved in human societies and natural environments.
Good descriptions and case studies of resource degradation are available from the
Mediterranean region, but an overall understanding is actually missing, as is a
theoretical framework to help analyze the multiple-sided issue of desertification.
Some research projects offer an opportunity to compare several study areas by
different methods throughout the Mediterranean region.
2.2 The example of the MEDIMONT research project
MEDIMONT is an example of such a project. It is a multi-national and multidisciplinary research program on the role and place of the mountains in the
desertification process of the Mediterranean regions, selected for support by the
European Community Directorate General for Research, within the frame of its
Environment program. This program includes a specific chapter on desertification.
The main objectives of MEDIMONT are to understand the desertification process
in the Mediterranean mountains, under various natural and human conditions, and
to produce guidelines for a rational management of such areas, including
prevention, monitoring and appropriate policies for sustainable development. The
project is a combination of local and regional-scale investigations.
At the local scale a series of multi-disciplinary case studies is carried out in
pilot zones, to study the phenomenon, identify criteria, develop guide lines, but
also give evidence of the diversity, the similarities and dissimilarities among the
study areas.
At the regional scale, the work is completed by some general approaches to
include the local case studies in a consistent overview, extrapolate findings,
possible applications and recommendations from the local to the regional-scale
level.