Libya: Reversal of Land Degradation and Desertification Through Better Land Management - Combating Desertification in Asia, Africa and the Middle East - page 78

It is clear that desertification has serious ecological, socio-economic and envi-
ronmental consequences. Hence, the lack of appropriate strategy to combat and
fight against desertification using various ways and means at all levels may lead to
devastating consequences. The most serious consequences include the degradation
and destruction of natural resources, decrease of productive lands (agricultural and
pastoral) and reduced productivity; soil salinization and erosion, mobilization of
sand dunes, habitat fragmentation and extinction of valuable species, occurrence of
dust storms that have severe environmental impacts on plants, animals and humans
and migration of people to cities. The major consequence of desertification at
the local and global level is the reduction in biodiversity, since it contributes to
the destruction of the habitats of animal and plant species and micro-organisms
(Abahussain et al. 2002 ). It is also expected to encourage the genetic erosion of
local livestock and plant varieties and species living in fragile ecosystems, Libya is
no exception.

3 Efforts to Combat Desertification

In order to combat desertification continuous monitoring is essential and currently
the use of the remote sensing technology to monitor desertification has proved to be
the most efficient approach (Hassan 2004 ).
Since the early1960s, serious measures have been taken to combat desertification
in Libya (Ben-Mahmoud et al. 2000 ). 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 fixing mobile sand dunes, establishment of windbreaks, returning fallow
land to forest land, establishment of terraces to combat soil erosion, retention of
rain water in situ on sloping agricultural land, and using crop rotations to maintain
soil fertility, especially in the cereal-growing areas, as well as the protection and
improvement of natural pastures (Nahal 1987 )(Fig. 4.4 ).
In spite of the success of some attempts to achieve the desired objectives,
others did not meet the same success due to the lack of relevant laws and
regulations concerning the protection of the environment (Libyan Department of
Urban Planning 2005 ). However, adopting better land use management practices
could slow down the desertification process.
Libya has adopted a lot of measures and actions to reduce the desertification
during the past four decades. Major desertification controlling strategies can be
summarized in the implementation of a range of diverse projects by government
in many areas (i.e. forest, pastures, sand dune fixation, soil and water conservation,
resistance to erosion and integrated agricultural development).