1. Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010
ISRIC
Desertification drivers and
policies in DESIRE study sites
S. Mantel (ISRIC)
G.W.J. van Lynden (ISRIC)
Marie-José van de Werff ten Bosch (Both Ends)

2. Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010
ISRIC
16 study sites

3. Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010
ISRIC
Climate
change
Socio-economic drivers
Demographics
Migration
Policies Prices
Markets
Social
factors
Land use
and management
Desertification
processes
Response
SLM
strategies
Other sources
of income
People
Rural
livelihoods
Sustainability
goals
Bio-physical drivers
Environmental
conditions

4. Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010
ISRIC
Climate
change
Socio-economic drivers
Demographics
Migration
Policies Prices
Markets
Social
factors
Land use
and management
Desertification
processes
Response
SLM
strategies
Other sources
of income
People
Rural
livelihoods
Sustainability
goals
Bio-physical drivers
Environmental
conditions
SLM loop

5. Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010
ISRIC
Climate
change
Socio-economic drivers
Demographics
Migration
Policies Prices
Markets
Social
factors
Land use
and management
Desertification
processes
Response
SLM
strategies
Other sources
of income
People
Rural
livelihoods
Sustainability
goals
Bio-physical drivers
Environmental
conditions
Policy loop

6. Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010
ISRIC
DESIRE study sites
• Climate in the DESIRE study sites:
from (semi-)arid to sub-humid. High
variation between sites. Av. Ann. rainfall <
600 mm, < 300 mm and sometimes <100
mm.
• Dominant land uses dryland farming and
pastures, with increasing importance of
irrigated arable farming and other forms of
capital intense farming.

7. Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010
ISRIC
Methods
• Data collected through emailed
questionnaires (and discussed in
group sessions)
• Structure and data fields used DPSIR
concepts of socio-economic drivers,
environmental drivers, pressures,
impact, responses, and policies

8. Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010
ISRIC
Drivers Socio economic drivers Environmental
drivers
Pressures Impact
Study site: Guadalentin Basin, Murcia, Spain
Land
abandonment
Aging farming population
(traditionally dry land farmers),
farming only part-time activity.
Commercial, irrigated farms have
developed at the cost of traditional
dryland agriculture since the
1970's, Policy developed and
implemented at many different
levels within ministries and
governments. Cross-sectoral
cooperation and planning is
extremely complex and difficult to
implement.
Natural conditions such
as topography, climate
and lithology and active
tectonic uplift favor
overland flow and
erosion.
Changes in soil quality, soil organic
matter content and increased
vegetation cover
Soil erosion (+)
Common
Agricultural
Policy (CAP)
Lack of investment at region, local,
and farm level, the low profitability
of agriculture calls for government
intervention to provide incentives
The threatened mosaic
landscape is crucial for
SWC purposes
Changes in soil quality, soil organic
matter content and increased
vegetation cover
Soil erosion (+)
Intensive tillage Tillage under almonds is
traditionally done 3-5 times a year
Soils are easily crusted
without tillage which
reduces infiltration
capacity
Higher organic matter content, less
runoff and erosion
Soil erosion (-)
Irrigated
horticulture
and illegal
pumping of
groundwater
for irrigation
Irrigated horticulture is the most
profitable land use type in the
region
Land leveling is often
practiced for irrigated
agriculture
Changes in groundwater availability
and quality
Ground water
(quality+
quantity) decline
Intensive pig
farming
Low land demand High demand for pork
and ham
Changes in water and soil quality Soil and
groundwater
contamination
Decline of
traditional
knowledge
Land abandonment, due to out-
migration to cities, has lead to
increased soil erosion, causing
damage to existing SWC
strucutures such as terraces and
water harvesting structures.
Long dry periods and
intermittent rivers
require structures to
maintain water that is
available during rainfall
events throughout dry
Changes in water availability and
quality
Water stress

9. Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010
ISRIC
Drivers Impact Responses Policies
Guadalentin Basin, Murcia, Spain
Land abandonment Soil erosion (+) Construction of terraces and
check dams, reduced tillage,
increased fallow periods,
reforestation
Policies and regulations that focus on
vegetation cover management, such as
reforestation, crop rotations and fallow
periods
Common
Agricultural Policy
(CAP)
Soil erosion (+) Construction of terraces and
check dams, reduced tillage,
increased fallow periods,
reforestation
National Action Programme to Combat
Desertification (NAPD), European
Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee
Fund (EAGGF), and the Regional
development programmes
Intensive tillage Soil erosion (-) Reduced- and contour tillage Regional development programme
Irrigated
horticulture and
illegal pumping of
groundwater for
irrigation
Ground water (quality+ quantity)
decline
Drip irrigation and plastic
covers to reduce evaporation
losses
Policy enforcement by the water
authorities, water transfers, subsidies for
irrigation infrastructure, European
Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee
Fund (EAGGF)
Intensive pig
farming
Soil and groundwater contamination Controlled use of sludge for
fertilization purposes
Regulations on waste treatment, storage
and use of pig sludge
Decline of
traditional
knowledge
Water stress Construction of terraces and
water harvesting structures
Regional development programme

10. Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010
ISRIC
Source: De Vente et al., based on discussions between stakeholders during two stakeholder workshops in 2007 – 2008
Guadalentin basin, Spain: Sustainability Goals
Goal 1 Maintenance and restoration of the productive capacity of the
agricultural-, forest-, and scrublands systems
Goal 2 Reduce water loss and maintain or restore aquifer levels
Goal 3 Reduce soil erosion and prevent flooding and siltation of
reservoirs
Goal 4 Increase soil fertility and soil organic matter content
Goal 5 Integration of agriculture and ecological systems in a ‘mosaic
landscape’
Goal 6 Conservation of biological diversity
Goal 7 Production of labelled ‘quality products’ from ecological
agriculture
Goal 8 Use of organic waste and sludge for local green energy
production

11. Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010
ISRIC
Key drivers of desertification
• Out-migration
• Lack of (integrated) planning
• Land fragmentation
• Land management decline
• Mono-culture tree planting
• Population growth/poverty
• Lack of land tenure
• Land use intensification

12. Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010
ISRIC
frequency of reported drivers for desertification/degradation
in the 16 DESIRE study sites
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Outmigration
Lackofplanning
Mono-plantation
Landfragmentation
Intensification
Pop.growth/Poverty
Landtenure
Landmanagementdecline
Frequency
Drivers

13. Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010
ISRIC
Outmigration is a key driver of
desertification (10 sites, 9 countries)
Driver / Issue Study Site Primary impact Secondary impact
Outmigration / low
population/
Ageing
Portugal (2) Land use change/land abandonment,
negligence of SWC structures,
loss of (traditional) knowledge
Forest fires, soil erosion
Spain Mosaic landscape is lost, SWC
structures damaged
Soil erosion
Tunesia Land use change (degradation of
SWC structures)
Soil erosion
Greece, Crete Less land care Soil erosion(
(Population change) Russia (Dzhanybek) Introduction of mechanization Soil erosion, salinization
Cape Verde Land abandonment lead to invasive
species
Biodiversity and soil quality decline
Chile Poor agricultural and
livestock practices
Soil erosion
Italy Poor land care Soil erosion,
Mass movement, soil slip
Morocco, Sehoel Indirect effect: lack of labour for
rotational cropping
Soil mining

14. Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010
ISRIC
• Lack of integrated planning and
implementation of policies is
considered to contribute to
desertification (8 sites, 6 countries)
• E.g. Spain: effective policy is difficult due to
multiple sectors and many administrative levels
• Botswana: Lack of coordination and implementation
capacity resulting in low impact of policies.
National policies do not always fit local conditions
that sometimes cause negative side-effects

15. Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010
ISRIC
Land fragmentation (7 sites, 6 countries)
E.g Portugal: Increased land abandonment, less managed
forest and vegetation -> increased forest fires risk
E.g Turkey, Karapinar: Expansion of irrigated agriculture
at the cost of traditional dry land farming ->lowering
ground water levels
Land use intensification (7 sites, 6
countries)
Introduction of mono-culture tree
plantations (6 sites, 5 countries)
Mono-culture tree plantations: often decreased soil cover
(e.g. Tunisia, Morocco), leading to greater
forest/plantation fire risk (Portugal, Chile)

16. Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010
ISRIC
Land management decline is considered a
driver (5 study sites, 4 countries).
•E.g. Russia (Novy): decrease of irrigated area but use
of inappropriate methods for irrigation; soil
salinization, water logging
•Morocco: due to outmigration land tenure issues
(land is rented out) and less labor available, rotational
cropping is left for continuous wheat cultivation)

17. Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010
ISRIC
NOT (or hardly) reported by study sites:
•Tourism
•Transport/infrastructure
•Climate change

18. Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010
ISRIC
Policies
• The international policy agreements and national
contributions to them mentioned by the study sites:
• the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, and
its National Action Plans (7 sites)
• Agenda 21 and environmental action plans and protection
laws (7 sites)
• Common Agricultural Policy (in Europe) (3 sites)
• National Strategy for Poverty Reduction (1 site)
• Natura 2000 (1 site)
• Convention on Biological Diversity, and national plans and
regulations (1 site)
• European Water Framework Directive (1 site)

19. Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010
ISRIC
Policies (2)
The national and local agreements mentioned:
• Subsidy schemes, regulations, laws on irrigation, water
management, waste and flood control (9 sites)
• Forestry laws and forest management regulations (5 sites)
• agricultural laws and regulations, such as national policy on
agricultural development (5 sites)
• laws and national strategies on soil conservation and prevention and
control of desertification (3 sites)
• bonus programme on rehabilitation of degraded lands (1 site)
• regional development plan (1 site)
• official establishments of protected areas and national parks (1 site)
• national strategy for rangeland improvement (1 site)
• land management law (1 site) and grassland law (1 site)
• Community Based Natural Resource Management Policy (1 site)
• Tourism policies (1 site)
• Emigration policies (1 site)
• National plan for rural biogas development (1 site)
• Revised National Policy on Education (1 site)
• Order in council on protection of air (1 site)

20. Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010
ISRIC
Policies (3)
NOT (or hardly) reported by study sites:
•Trade and investment agreements
•Climate change protocols/agreements

21. Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010
ISRIC
Conclusions
• Drivers reported may have either negative
or positive effects on desertification
depending on the environmental and socio-
economic context (e.g. land abandonment)
• Local decisions on land use and
management are highly influenced by
national and global economy and trade and
the resulting mobility of people
• Rural exodus is an indicator for change in
economic conditions and the primary driver
for desertification in several sites.

22. Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010
ISRIC
Conclusions
• Policies have diverse effects on land use
and management. Policies not targeted on
environment or land management often as
or even more influential

23. Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17Panel Review Meeting, Brussels, 17thth
June 2009June 2009LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010LANDCON, Xi’an, China October 12, 2010
ISRIC
Thank you for your attention