Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
These measures were part of a broad policy in the framework of National Plan
for Agricultural Development which takes into account the objectives of local
development on the one hand, and harsh environmental conditions prevailing
in the country on the other. These measures include curbing sand dunes,
establishment of windbreaks, reforestation of fallow forest land, establishment of
terraces to combat soil erosion, preservation of rain water on sloping agricultural
land, and follow the special agricultural cycle to maintain soil fertility, especially
in the areas of cultivation of grain, as well as the protection and improvement of
natural pastures.
Keywords
Desertification
•
Human
impacts
•
Libya
•
Natural
resources
•
Sustainable
development
Mediterranean
Sea
•
Mediterranean
•
Saharan
•
Climate
•
Climate
change aquifers
•
Irrigation
•
Camels
•
Water
deficit
•
Groundwater • Olives • Vegetables
1
Introduction
Libya occupies a large area of the northern part of the African continent (Fig.
4.1
)
with an area of about 1,600,000 km
2
(Libyan General Planning Council
2003
).
Libya is located between 18
ı
and 33
ı
Nand9
ı
and 25
ı
E. Its climate is mainly
determined by contrasting Mediterranean and Sahara climates (El-Tantawi
2005
).
The Mediterranean Sea is regarded as the border from the north with a coast
that has a length of 1,900 km stretching from east to west (Abu Luqmah
1995
).
The population of Libya in 2006 was about 5,657,700 million people according
to the general census of population (Libyan General Agency of Information and
Documentation
2006
).
The vast area of the country (Table
4.1
) and the difficult natural environment
makes it impossible to develop the bulk of the area. On top of that, desert conditions,
water scarcity, and harsh climatic conditions have created barriers which impeded
the expansion of human activity and development. As a result, the cultivated and
populated areas are small and limited in comparison with the total area of the
country. The desert climate prevails in the largest part of the country, with the
exception of only a narrow strip extends along the Mediterranean which includes
the coastal plains and the Northern highlands where the Mediterranean relative cold
and rainy in winter with two transitional seasons which are spring and autumn.
However, most of Libya experiences long arid months and very few humid
months. Temperatures range between high to very high in the summer and moderate
to cooler in the winter and reaches the highest during the summer in August, while
the lowest is recorded during the winter season in January. The climate of Libya is
characterized by absolute aridity. The period of rainfall is almost limited to a few
months of the year (i.e. October to March) on the northern areas dominated by a
typical Mediterranean climate. About 90 % of the annual rainfall occurs during the
cold half of the year, and nearly half of the amount falls during the months of January
Search WWH ::
Custom Search