Thirty-Eight Percent of World's Surface in Danger of Desertification

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Researchers have measured the degradation of the planet's soil using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), a scientific methodology that analyses the environmental impact of human activities, and which now for the first time includes indicators on desertification. The results show that 38 percent of the world is made up of arid regions at risk of desertification.

"Despite improvements in the LCA, it has a methodological weakness, which is a lack of environmental impact categories to measure the effect of human activities such as cultivation or grazing on the soil," Montserrat Núñez, lead author and a researcher at the Institute of Agro Food Research and Technology (IRTA), said.

The research, published in the latest issue of the International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, is the first study in the world to include the impact of desertification in the LCA, based on classifying 15 natural areas or "eco-regions" according to their degree of aridity. By simultaneously using the LCA and a Geographic Information System (GIS), the researchers have shown that eight of these 15 areas can be classified as at risk of desertification, representing 38% of the land surface of the world.

The eight natural areas at risk are coastal areas, the Prairies, the Mediterranean region, the savannah, the temperate Steppes, the temperate deserts, tropical and subtropical Steppes, and the tropical and subtropical deserts.

"The greatest risk of desertification (7.6 out of 10 on a scale produced using various desertification indicators) is in the subtropical desert regions -- North Africa, the countries of the Middle East, Australia, South West China and the western edge of South America," the scientist explains.

These are followed by areas such as the Mediterranean and the tropical and subtropical Steppes, both of which score 6.3 out of 10 on the scale of desertification risk. Coastal areas and the Prairies are at a lower risk of desertification, with 4 out of 10.

"Unsustainable land use may lead to soil becoming degraded. If this happens in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid regions, such as Spain, this degradation is known as desertification, and the effects can be irreversible, because they lead to areas becoming totally unproductive," says Núñez, who worked on the study with scientists from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and the National Technological University in Mendoza, Argentina.

In order to establish their methodology, the researchers used four biophysical variables that are the main causes of desertification -- aridity, erosion, over-exploitation of aquifers and risk of fire. "This makes it possible to satisfactorily evaluate the impact of desertification of a particular human activity, and compare the impact of the same activity in a different place, or the impact of different activities carried out in the same place," explains the researcher. The methodology proposed by the scientists is currently being put to use in various case studies in Spain and Argentina.

Completing the study of desertification

The new research shows that using the LCA in combination with GIS makes it easier to adapt the LCA to study the impacts of land use, not only in the case of desertification, but also in terms of loss of biodiversity, erosion, or even water consumption.

This new methodology will provide the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) with an environmental impact category that will make it possible to measure "the desertification potential caused by any human activity," adds Núñez.

The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a scientific methodology that objectively analyses the environmental impacts of an activity or process, taking in the full cycle, from extraction of raw materials right through to management of the waste generated at the end of this material's useful life.

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[Calypso 465]

That's not good.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

That's not good.

On the positive side...a lot of the world's governments understand the danger and there is political will to address the issue. Sustainability is a word that just can't be swept under the rug. It is the key to the future...for our children's children.

Edited February 16, 2010 by Galt's gallstones

[Peikko 1,575]

The VJ community says pfft to sustainability. It's not American.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The VJ community says pfft to sustainability. It's not American.

Don't let the know-nothing knuckleheads misrepresent VJ. They are only small, but very loud minority.

[natty bumppo 297]

The VJ community says pfft to sustainability. It's not American.

speaking for yourself again?

[Peikko 1,575]

I don't think they misrepresent VJ OT. Whether that says anything about any other community...

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I don't think they misrepresent VJ OT. Whether that says anything about any other community...

Since we're talking about a virtual community here of invisible people, I guess you can imagine they all have fangs and drink pig's blood on a full moon if that works for you.

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Since we're talking about a virtual community here of invisible people, I guess you can imagine they all have fangs and drink pig's blood on a full moon if that works for you.

Beats the ** outta FRUIT juice.

[Peikko 1,575]

Since we're talking about a virtual community here of invisible people, I guess you can imagine they all have fangs and drink pig's blood on a full moon if that works for you.

VJ OT people? Absolutely, I guess you imagine them all with unicorns and carrying rainbows?

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Don't let the know-nothing knuckleheads misrepresent VJ. They are only small, but very loud minority.

Hmmm, I dont hear anything! Double the meds and let us know if the voices get LOUDER!

[Nasturtium 500]

link

Some environments are very precarious in how they are kept together-- and cutting down trees can basically turn them into a desert. I know my husband's area is like that. The oaks, etc were chopped down and now they have lost most of their rains and trees will not come up. The humidity of the previous forest was what was causing the forest to sustain. Granted, the rainfall is probably in a short cycle at the moment, but it was a very balanced system.

That said, did you notice this?

"The greatest risk of desertification (7.6 out of 10 on a scale produced using various desertification indicators) is in the subtropical desert regions -- North Africa, the countries of the Middle East, Australia, South West China and the western edge of South America," the scientist explains.

Tropical and subtropical deserts ARE deserts already. They couldn't be in danger of desertification because they are a desert. This makes me wonder about the person writing this/the scientist questioned. Subtropical and tropical only refer to the temperatures not the rainfall. Yuma, AZ is a subtropical desert. Phoenix is a subtropical desert. Neither have much in the way of rainfall-- and are thus classed as deserts. Now, if they meant a decrease in flora and fauna and increase in drought, that is another issue... but a desert is just a set classification.

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

The VJ community says pfft to sustainability. It's not American.

Really? We don't believe in the Global Warming hoax so that makes us against sustainability? Is that what you are trying to say?

[Peikko 1,575]

Really? We don't believe in the Global Warming hoax so that makes us against sustainability? Is that what you are trying to say?

You'all don't believe in science, what can I say?

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

You'all don't believe in science fiction, what can I say?

Fixxored. and neither should you.