Land degradation, desert and drought

The Threatening Desert looks at the nature, causes and extent of desertification; describes ways by which it can be brought under control and gives examples of projects which have aimed to do this. It then evaluates progress made so far. As many examples in the book demonstrate, when projects do not take into account the needs and wishes of local people they are lilkely to fail. The social and policy components of projects are not optional extras or even supplementary to the basic techniques of resource management, they are absolutely essential. Arousing awareness and enthusiasm is difficult but therein lies the challenge for controlling desertification. The book has been written both for the general reader, who is looking for a concise overview of the subject, and for those who are more concerned with the design and implementation of projects to brie,: desertification under control. The author points out that if forecasts of climatic change are correct, farmers all over the world will have to learn to adapt their agricultural practices. In those areas where climatic shifts make crop production a marginal activity there is a danger that over-cultivation will degrade the land. The parallels and possible linkage between desertification and the greenhouse effect suggest that we should do well to place far more emphasis on desertification control activities now in order to have a sound basis for wider action in the future. 'The Threatening, Desert: controlling desertification', by Alan Grainger, published by Earthscan, 368pp, ISBN 1-85383 0410, Price UKL9.95'The Threatening, Desert: controlling desertification', by Alan Grainger, published by Earthscan, 368pp, ISBN 1-85383 0410, Price UKL9.9