Keeping the desert at bay

Journal Article · Sun Feb 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · EPA J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6531408

El-Kassas, M

Man-made desert (areas that are no longer productive) has increased the world's deserts from 36.3 to 43% of the land surface. Desertification involves ecological degradation that makes the land less productive or allows an uneconomic type of vegetation, such as mesquite, to replace an economic plant. The process was first thought to be an encroachment by expanding deserts, but, except for the movement of sand dunes, desertification is now viewed as productive land that deteriorated and was added to the desert. Land is lost to agriculture by erosion, loss of nutrients, compaction, salination, urban development, and pollution. The interacting biosphere, technosphere, and social sphere form the framework of man's existence. An understanding of this framework is crucial to those offering technological assistance to developing countries. (DCK)

• Research Organization: Univ. of Cairo, Egypt
• OSTI ID: 6531408
• Journal Information: EPA J.; (United States), Journal Name: EPA J.; (United States) Vol. 7:2; ISSN EPAJD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290400 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Energy Resources
510500* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Site Resource & Use Studies-- (-1989)
530000 -- Environmental-Social Aspects of Energy Technologies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ARID LANDS
DESERTS
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
ECOSYSTEMS
GLOBAL ASPECTS
LAND USE
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS