Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 18
Soil and Water Conservation for Desertification
Control in Iran
Ali Najafi Nejad
Synopsis
An overview of both past and on-going efforts to arrest and reverse land
degradation in Iran. Iran has areas vulnerable to desertification due to extensive areas
of drylands and increasing population pressure on land and water resources. Over-
grazing of rangelands is a particular problem. Initially desertification was combated
mainly at the local level and involved dune stabilization measures, especially the
use of oil mulch, re-vegetation and windbreaks. Several projects are summarized
that illustrate the variety of the problems faced in this country that has a large
arid zone.
Key Points
•
There is an increasing need for research into desertification development and its
causes as this can provide an important basis for desertification control strategies
and rational planning of land use in arid and semi-arid areas. Desertification
is a very complex process. In addition to natural conditions such as climate,
vegetation, soil and so on, it involves many human economic activities, for
example, agriculture and animal husbandry. Therefore, to combat desertification,
one needs not only to improve natural conditions and raise land productivity, but
also to ameliorate the use and management of natural resources in desertified
areas.
•
In 2004 a national plan to combat desertification was ratified and this placed an
emphasis on community participation. Continuing challenges include managing
existing desertified areas as well as taking into account potential future problems
associated with rapidly depleting groundwater supplies and a predicted reduction
in the plant growth period accompanying climate change.
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