Land Degradation, Desertification and Climate Change

Climate change and desertification are closely interlinked and most acutely experienced by people in drylands who are dependent on natural resources. This book explores the interactions between these people's livelihoods and their biophysical environment, focusing on how land users and the policy community can better anticipate, assess, and adapt to climate change and desertification. The authors draw on a wide range of case study examples, including from Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia, China, Europe, South America and the south-west USA. They extend these to evaluate the challenges for effective adaptation in the context of other developmental stresses (including poverty, energy insecurity, food insecurity, migration) and in light of the uncertainty associated with future climate projections and trends. The book also considers the governance and policy challenges that must be overcome in order to facilitate effective adaptation at national and international levels. It demonstrates clearly that an integrated approach to addressing desertification and climate change is both urgent and necessary, but that synergy and multiple benefits can only be achieved by taking a more holistic approach to these challenges.