Vegetational Degradation in Central Asia under the Impact of Human Activities

About this book

This book is about desertification. The author describes vegetation degradation as a part of the integral process of desert ecosystem degradation in Central Asia under the impact of human activities. A connection is made between political and social factors and degradation of desert environments in historical perspective. Fragile desert ecosystems suffer first of all from the loss of vegetation. Wildlife is reduced, productivity of desert rangelands fall and the people also suffer from a shortage of food. The after-effect of this process is catastrophic, not only for the desert itself but also for the people living in the desert. Several measures are also discussed in the book for conservation of desert vegetation and rehabilitation of desert lands.

Contents

Introduction. Physical Environment and Agricultural Development. Historical Interaction of Desert and Society. Political, Economic and Social Impact of Land Degradation During the Soviet Period. Methodology of Desertification Assessment and Mapping. Status of Degraded Arid Lands. Change of Wildlife. Accumulated Ecological Problems in New Independent Countries of Central Asia After 1991. Convention to Combat Desertification -- A Gleam of Hope at the End of the Tunnel. Synthesis and Conclusion. Glossary of Local and Special Terms. References. Index.

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