Soil and Water Conservation for Desertification Control in Iran - Combating Desertification in Asia, Africa and the Middle East - page 368

Table 18.1 A review of available desertification control technologies in Iran

Relative cost
effectiveness No. Technique/methods Sites where applicable Limitations/benefits Overall rating

Biological methods

1 Shelterbelt networks to

protect farmland

Within farmland Only a few tree species suitable Relatively expensive 4 Effectiveness

Long-horned beetle damaged Simple management 4 Durability

Along banks of canal High consumption of water Resulting in yield 4 Maintenance

Good protection results Reduction in the

marginal field

Making micro-climate for crops
Supplying timber

2 Sand fixation forest for fixing

mobile send dunes

2/3 of leeward side of mobile
dunes from bottom

Hard condition for shrubs to survive Cheap 4 Effectiveness

Labor demanding Relatively easy to

maintenance

4 Durability

Long life (20-40 years) 3 Maintenance

Fixing sand dunes

3 Wind break forest Between farmland and sand

dunes

Labor demanding Relatively cheap 4 Effectiveness

High consumption of water More effort to

maintain

4 Durability

Good ecological & economic benefits 2 Maintenance

4 Enclosure for grazing land

and forest

Desert grassland Increasing biodiversity Cheap 4 Effectiveness

Forest area Few labor demanding Easy to maintenance 4 Maintenance

5 Air seeding for grazing land

and afforestation

Dissected loess areas Must have aircraft Cheap in large area 4 Effectiveness

Desert grazing land Relatively high concentration of rainfall Low labor cost 4 Durability

Efficient for making grazing land and
afforestation

3 Maintenance

6 Blocking in front and pulling

from behind

Dune chains Labor demanding Relatively expensive 4 Effectiveness

Reduce sand blown off 4 Durability

Stabilizing mobile dune 3 Maintenance

7 Grass pallisade to block wind

and sand and to create
pasture

Pasture land Labor demanding More effort to

maintain

4 Effectiveness
3 Durability
2 Maintenance