M. Dubost : Desertification of Mediterranean and Mountainous Regions
195
However, remotely sensed data must be analyzed in relation to other data derived
from field measurements, statistical records and historical archives.
The use of GIS is essential to overlap so much information on a geographical
basis, and developments in this field are of major importance for such studies.
But analyzing desertification in the context of regional environmental change
requires various study-scales in time and space.
Local case studies must be completed with regional syntheses, and there is also a
need for both retro-and prospective analysis, including social and natural aspects.
For instance, prospective analyses based on demographic data compared to the
availability of critical natural resources provide a basis for more detailed scenarios
on the future of the region. Also there is a need to carry out sensitivity studies on
the consequences of climate variability and change by comparing climatic
scenarios to the possible response of key biotic and abiotic parameters.
A retrospective approach is also necessary to provide information on the state of
the environment before and after some critical change in human settlement and
history and to assess its capacity to adapt or recover after major disturbances.
Reconstructing past vegetation dynamics is a good example of such an approach,
and methods derived from historical botany, like pollen analysis, dendrochronology or pedo-anthracology are particularly relevant.
4
CONCLUSION
A wide range of methods and techniques must be combined in any integrated
research effort aiming at modeling and monitoring desertification processes in the
Mediterranean mountains and regions.
KEYWORDS
Ecosystem, mountains, Mediterranean regions, soil erosion risk, climate change,
desertification, water resources, global change.
REFERENCES
[I]
Brouwer F., Falkenmark M., "Climate induced water availability changes in Europe.
Environmental monitoring and assessment". Kluwer Academic Publisher, Printed in the
Netherlands (1989).
[2]
B.A.H.C., Climate-Hydrology-Ecosystems Interrelations in Mountainous Regions
(CHESMO). An International Initiative for Integrative Research. IGBP - BAHC / UNEP
Workshop, Report n02, St Moritz, Switzerland, December 1993 (1994).
[3]
Hulme H., Climate Scenarios. Models and Monitoring. Proceedings of the First European
LICC Conference, Lunteren, the Netherlands (1989).
195
However, remotely sensed data must be analyzed in relation to other data derived
from field measurements, statistical records and historical archives.
The use of GIS is essential to overlap so much information on a geographical
basis, and developments in this field are of major importance for such studies.
But analyzing desertification in the context of regional environmental change
requires various study-scales in time and space.
Local case studies must be completed with regional syntheses, and there is also a
need for both retro-and prospective analysis, including social and natural aspects.
For instance, prospective analyses based on demographic data compared to the
availability of critical natural resources provide a basis for more detailed scenarios
on the future of the region. Also there is a need to carry out sensitivity studies on
the consequences of climate variability and change by comparing climatic
scenarios to the possible response of key biotic and abiotic parameters.
A retrospective approach is also necessary to provide information on the state of
the environment before and after some critical change in human settlement and
history and to assess its capacity to adapt or recover after major disturbances.
Reconstructing past vegetation dynamics is a good example of such an approach,
and methods derived from historical botany, like pollen analysis, dendrochronology or pedo-anthracology are particularly relevant.
4
CONCLUSION
A wide range of methods and techniques must be combined in any integrated
research effort aiming at modeling and monitoring desertification processes in the
Mediterranean mountains and regions.
KEYWORDS
Ecosystem, mountains, Mediterranean regions, soil erosion risk, climate change,
desertification, water resources, global change.
REFERENCES
[I]
Brouwer F., Falkenmark M., "Climate induced water availability changes in Europe.
Environmental monitoring and assessment". Kluwer Academic Publisher, Printed in the
Netherlands (1989).
[2]
B.A.H.C., Climate-Hydrology-Ecosystems Interrelations in Mountainous Regions
(CHESMO). An International Initiative for Integrative Research. IGBP - BAHC / UNEP
Workshop, Report n02, St Moritz, Switzerland, December 1993 (1994).
[3]
Hulme H., Climate Scenarios. Models and Monitoring. Proceedings of the First European
LICC Conference, Lunteren, the Netherlands (1989).