Desertification in Africa — A critique and an alternative approach

This article critically reviews the international debate on desertification, its status and rate as well as causes and consequences. The article rejects the commonly used concept of a degrading environment, but tries to explain the environmental problems as symptoms of a wider economic and political crisis. An alternative approach applying systems analysis of the entire socio-economic-system to the study of desertification and land degradation is discussed, with examples from the Western Sudan.     

Desertification,famine, and the 1988 rainfall —

The 1988 good rainy season in the Sudan raised the hopes that desertification/land degradation and shortage of food so markedly observed in Western Sudan have been elevated. This was particularly so as large quantities of grains were produced in the mechanized rain-fed agricultural schemes in the clay plains of Eastern Sudan. But the field work carried by the author in the Umm Ruwaba district of Kordofan region in July/August 1989 shows that, although there has been some improvement in the crop production situation, desertification/land degradation and shortage of food produced locally are still prevailing in the district. The people are still living below the poverty line, but they are able to cope because of remittances from members of the families working abroad and because of donations of food by some world organizations.     

我国北方土地荒漠化形成的地质环境

依据土地荒漠化的概念,从地质环境及其演化理论出发,提出了土地荒漠化发展的阶段性,论述了我国北方土地芒漠化发生、发展和演化的地质背景,分布规律的宏观控制因素,形成的地质、水文地质环境,环境地质条件的经趋势及土地荒漠化扩展的影响,提出了土壤荒漠化防治工作的基本对策。     

Nyimang women in urban settlements

Rural-urban migration is a widespread process in Sudan. Male migration from the Nuba mountains to Khartoum already started during the colonial time. Up to the present, the percentage of women under the migrants has rapidly increased. The women follow their husbands or move together with their families to the capital. Their living conditions in Khartoum differ from those in rural areas. The migrant women have less opportunities to work outside the house or to move to other housing areas, so that they only have contacts with members of their ethnic group living in the same neighbourhood. Besides the social problems, the women are confronted with economic difficulties. Their aim, to save money for remigration, is nearly impossible to attain.     

Geomorphological aspects of the process of desertification in Western Sudan

Desertification involves several morphodynamic processes which serve as indicators of the highly complex process of desertification and thus play an important role in its monitoring. Ecological degradation triggers off and enhances these morphological activities, which are mainly processes of soil changes, soil erosion, and the transport and accumulation of soils. These alterations of relief and soil result in hydrological changes which have negative effects on land productivity. Both geomorphological and desertification processes are so interwoven that it becomes difficult to differentiate clearly between causes and effects. As the field studies tackled here have been carried out in the sandy regions of western Sudan, special attention is being paid to aeolian erosion and accumulation. Fluvial processes play only a subsidiary role in the processes of desertification there.     

Women's migration and quality of life in Turkey

Turkey's urban growth has been unprecedented for the last two decades with women playing an increasingly substantial role in its development. In this context, we examine determinants of women's migration and quality of life in cities in 1990 (the most recent published census of Turkey) and onwards. Factor analysis of provincial data identified three quality of life dimensions: affluence, deprivation, and housing. Substantial disparities in quality of life indices exist between men and women, urban and rural milieu, and geographic regions. Migrants, especially women, still tend to move with their families but they prefer provinces with high scores on (relative) urban affluence and avoid deprived, rural provinces. Thus Istanbul, Ankara, and southern coastal provinces are preferred destinations. Policy implications for urban growth, regional development, and gender equality relative to migration are discussed.     

中国岩溶地区石漠化贫困问题研究进展

岩溶地区是实施乡村振兴战略的坚中之坚,是极易出现返贫的地区之一,有必要梳理总结岩溶地区消除石漠化贫困的历程、成果和存在的问题,巩固脱贫攻坚成果,夯实乡村振兴的理论基础。本研究以岩溶地区实施重大生态工程的时间节点为主线,参考各阶段前人取得的阶段性和标志性成果,系统梳理了石漠化贫困的相关概念和研究历程;然后对各阶段的研究热点进行整理,归纳总结了石漠化与农村贫困的关系、石漠化致贫机制、消除石漠化贫困的策略、防治工程减贫效益评价等4个方面的前人研究成果。研究表明:石漠化贫困与石漠化区贫困的界限不清,是造成石漠化防治工程和精准扶贫衔接脱节的原因之一,应突出石漠化区生态脆弱的特性,将生态建设有机融入巩固脱贫攻坚成果同乡村振兴有效衔接之中,实现生态、资源、人口和经济各要素的耦合协调发展;工作超前,理论基础研究落后的现实依然存在,应加强石漠化区乡村人地关系及相对贫困的研究,探究石漠化阻碍乡村振兴的制约机制;此外,在岩溶地区生态质量不断提升的背景下,应优化石漠化防治工程后评价体系,凸显社会效益和经济效益评价的重要性,总结经验、汲取教训,巩固岩溶地区脱贫攻坚成果,实现脱贫攻坚与乡村振兴有效衔接。      

Climatic changes and desertification in some regions of the Middle East

It is generally believed that more than 100 tropical countries are suffering from desertification or land degradation as a result of climatic changes. There is also concern that the rising temperature would lead to further environmental degradation and cause economic, social and other environmental impacts (1) in the Middle East. This paper is a modest attempt to investigate temperature and rainfall data in three countries of the Middle East (Oman, Bahrain, and Sudan) to determine if any change has taken place in the weather conditions. The short term environmental impact of the GulfWar in 1991 has been included in the study.The study confirms that temperatures are rising and rainfall is decreasing in Oman (2, 3) and other two countries, leading to increasing desertification processes. Here, following Hume and Kelly (4) desertification is taken to mean degradation in dryland regions or the permanent decline in the potential of the land to support biological activity and hence human welfare. A brief geographical discussion of Oman, Bahrain, and Sudan precedes a detailed analysis of temperatures and rainfall regimen in all three countries.     

Climatic changes,desertification and the Republic of Sudan

Meteorological data for a period of 30 to 50 years was analysed to ascertain the climatic changes in the Republic of Sudan. The study confirms that the temperatures are rising and rainfall declining. Rigorous analysis of relative humidity, clouds, rediation and evaporation also confirms the changing pattern, a trend which may accelerate environmental degradation and desertification in Sudan.The author acknowledges the assistance of Nadir Ahmad El-Agib in completing this study. He is also thankful to Dr. Ahmad El-Agib for his help in getting the Meteorological data from Sudan.     

Geological environment and causes for desertification in arid-semiarid regions in China

. In the past 40 years, the desertification rates have reached between 0.81 and 1.64% per year in northern China. Many researchers have focused their studies particularly on climate change and human activities occurring in recent years but have overlooked the possible effect of changing geological environment on a much longer time scale on this deterioration of land. Using the Geologic Information System (GIS) technique, the impact of climate change, eolian deposit, loess formation, and the Quaternary environment in the past 20,000 years on desertification during three periods of dry-cold, warm-humid and dry-cold conditions was investigated. The results indicate that the important factor causing the drought and desertification in the north is the uplifting of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau in the past 10,000 years. The time scale on which natural factors contribute to desertification is 1,000–10,000 years, whereas that of human influence is only in the magnitude of a decade to about 100 years. There is evidence to indicate that the change in the Quaternary geological environment was the decisive factor for the desertification. The destruction of vegetation and surface soil cover is the direct and immediate cause leading to the present desertification. In the past 50 years, the climate in northern China has been predominantly dry and warm, creating a favorable condition for the desertification process. Therefore, it is an important task for China in the 21st century to protect vegetation and to limit land development so as to stop the desertification process.     

2000-2010年鄂尔多斯地区沙漠化动态及其气候变化和人类活动驱动影响的辨识

以2000-2010年近10 a来鄂尔多斯地区沙漠化过程为研究对象, 在利用MODIS数据对沙漠化动态进行监测的基础上, 综合分析沙漠化逆转和发展地区气候变化和人类活动引起的NPP变化趋势, 定量评估近10 a来鄂尔多斯地区沙漠化动态及其与气候变化和人类活动间的关系. 结果表明: 2000-2010年间, 尽管鄂尔多斯地区沙漠化面积没有明显变化, 但是沙漠化程度呈现整体逆转的态势, 其中逆转的沙漠化土地面积达47 057 km²(占鄂尔多斯地区土地总面积的54.2%), 比发展的沙漠化土地面积高出近3倍. 气候变化是近10 a来鄂尔多斯地区沙漠化逆转的主导因素, 主要归因于2006年来降雨量的增加以及近10 a来春季风速的减小, 围封禁牧、 退耕还林(草)等政策的实施及其与有利气候条件的耦合进一步加快了区域沙漠化的逆转. 人类活动是导致近10 a来鄂尔多斯地区沙漠化发展的主要因素, 主要归因于部分地区生态保护政策的落实不力以及区域资源开发引起的环境破坏, 完全由人类活动引起的沙漠化发展主要分布鄂尔多斯的北部地区.     

黄土高原北部风沙区土地沙漠化问题及防治对策

本文所研究的黄土高原北部风沙区生态环境脆弱,加上长期以来人类不合理地利用资源,土地沙漠化问题日益严重。沙漠化土地已经以不同的等级类型不连续地散布在整个黄土高原的北部边缘,并有进一步由北向南推进的趋势。其中地表沙性物质基础和干旱多风的动力条件是其发生发展的基本条件,起决定作用;人为因素是外在条件,加速沙漠化的发展。黄土高原北部土地沙漠化的危害,在本区域的表现十分突出。不仅对当地经济的发展和人民生活有严重影响,更为严重的是该地区土地沙漠化的现状、形成及扩展,会使黄河流域土地沙漠化进一步向南推进,对整个黄土高原甚至我国整个北方地区的自然环境都有直接影响。黄土高原北部边缘土地沙漠化问题,不仅是当地经济振兴的严重障碍,而且威胁着整个黄土高原地区资源的开发与利用。因此,如何及时采取有效措施遏制其土地沙漠化势头就成为了一个迫在眉睫,并急需解决的问题。本文在搜集大量原始资料的基础上,对该区土地沙漠化的现状进行了总结,探讨了形成机理,并进一步分析了沙漠化的危害,最后提出了相应的防治对策。     

土地石漠化概念与分级问题再探讨

针对前人研究中将石漠化发生的地域限定在亚热带,将发生的时间限定在人类历史时期,将发生的原因均归结为人为不合理的经济活动,而忽视了石漠化可能发生的其它地域、其它时期和其它成因等问题,对土地石漠化概念作了修正。认为土地石漠化是在湿润、半湿润气候环境和岩溶环境中,由于人类活动和/或气候变化等因素作用,造成地表植被退化、土壤侵蚀、地表水流失、基岩裸露,形成类似石质荒漠景观的土地退化过程,并对其内涵作出释义。在此基础上依据生态基准面的理论,以坡面形态、溶蚀岩溶地貌形态、基岩出露率、土壤厚度和土被覆盖度、土壤侵蚀程度、植被覆盖率和植物种群、土地利用类型等为景观指征,将石漠化土地分为轻度、中度、重度和极重度4个等级,并以粤北岩溶山区为例,拟定了区域性石漠化土地分级及其综合景观指征。      

Local Government and Natural Resources in the Sudan: The Case of Lagawa Rural Council

Resource management, protection and promotion are very critical issues facing many parts of our rapidly changing world. In most developing countries, such issues are handled by both central and local governments, but quite often specialised government agencies are entrusted with these jobs. In Sudan, and since 1971, local government has become more involved than ever with the issue of natural resources. This research assesses the performance of a single local government unit in Western Sudan with regard to the above mentioned issues. Out of the multiplicity of resources in the council, only natural grazing is selected for the focus of this assessment study, because of its high significance in the local socio-economic set-up. A lengthy field-study was carried out to determine the resource situation and how it affects policy and control and promotion measures. This council has failed; a situation typical of most rural councils in Sudan. Worst of all, the natural grazing is deteriorating rapidly under stocking rates which exceed the carrying capacity by 49%, a fact that has already enhanced desertification.This research is partially sponsored by the UNU.     

喀斯特石漠化--中国西南最严重的生态地质环境问题

作为最严重的环境地质问题,日益扩展的土地石漠化,正在吞噬着中国西南喀斯特地区民众的生存空间,已经构成灾害和贫困之源。喀斯特石漠化是土地荒漠化的主要类型之一,是人类不合理经济活动叠加于脆弱生态地质环境背景上的综合作用结果。它以脆弱的生态地质环境为基础,以强烈的人类活动为驱动力,以土地生产力退化为本质,以出现类似荒漠景观为标志。中国西南脆弱的喀斯特生态环境是经过漫长的地质历史演化而形成的,它对喀斯特石漠化具有明显的控制作用。构造运动塑造了陡峻而破碎的喀斯特地貌格局,古环境演化奠定了石漠化的物质基础。喀斯特地区的人口压力及不合理的人类活动,导致土地资源的严重退化、植被覆盖度锐减、水土流失加剧和生态环境严重恶化,超载的社会经济压力是导致喀斯特土地石漠化最重要的驱动力。尽管喀斯特石漠化综合治理非常艰巨,但仍具备恢复或重建生态环境的可能性。     

苏丹哈佳吉金矿床稀土元素地球化学特征

通过对苏丹哈佳吉金矿床矿石和围岩稀土元素含量的研究,发现该矿床近矿围岩稀土总量较矿石稀土总量明显要高,轻重稀土元素分馏明显,Eu呈现中等程度或弱的负异常,Ce含量则相对较稳定,表明成矿环境为还原环境。根据近矿围岩的稀土元素C1球粒陨石标准化曲线及北美页岩标准化曲线,可以推断该区古老变质基底所处的构造环境应属大洋岛弧环境...     

Minority women’s microenterprises in rural areas of the United States of America: African American,Hispanic American and Native American case studies

Women in many rural areas of the US often engage in small-scale businesses as one of several avenues for contributing to household incomes. In those geographical areas that contain a significant minority population, many of the women's businesses display the cultural diversity of the regions in which they live. Likewise, women's roles as economic providers as well as wives and mothers are reflected in the manner in which they operate their businesses. Candida Brush suggests that women's strategies for operating their businesses are highly integrative because women's business decisions are intertwined with familial responsibilities, household economic demands and desires to contribute to their communities. Hispanic and Native American women in the Four Corners region of southwestern US and African American women in central Virginia participated in interviews in which they responded to numerous short answer and open-ended questions about their businesses and decision-making strategies. From these interviews an image emerges of rural minority business women who are operating their businesses at the nexus of family obligations, economic necessities, cultural ties and with a commitment for serving their communities. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

贵州关岭县喀斯特峰丛石漠区苔藓群落生态特征

为了了解喀斯特峰丛石漠化区苔藓植物的种类和群落特征,本文选取贵州省安顺市关岭县喀斯特峰丛石漠化区的三种典型生境（裸地、人工植被和自然植被）,对苔藓植物进行样地调查,并利用种间相遇几率（PIE）、生态优势度、Shaanon-Wiener信息指数(衡量生态位宽度)和Morisita-Horn指数(衡量生态位重叠)来分析该区苔藓植物群落的组成、分布规律及生态特征。结果表明:（1）该区苔藓植物共有11科17属22种,真藓科为优势科,苔藓植物群落有19个类型。（2）苔藓群落PIE值与植被覆盖度呈正比,与岩石裸露率呈反比,自然植被生境的苔藓群落PIE值高于人工植被和裸地生境,但研究区苔藓群落PIE总体偏低,反映了喀斯特峰丛地区恶劣的生境条件。（3）研究区内卷叶湿地藓群落(Hyophiletum)、直蒴卷柏藓群落(Racopietum)和皱叶牛舌藓群落(Anomodetum)有着较高的生态优势度和生态位宽度,并且与其它苔藓群落的生态位重叠值很高。表明这三种苔藓群落对不同类型的峰丛石漠化生境都有着较好的适应能力,能够很好地与其它苔藓群落互利共生。      

内蒙古中东部浅覆盖区荒漠化的驱动因素及其演化的地质依据

内蒙古中东部荒漠草原浅覆盖区因其特殊的地质地貌成为了地球科学、环境科学等研究的热点地区。在这个区域内,一方面针对水土资源和矿产资源的开发利用,从多角度、多维度对其覆盖层的揭露探索取得一定成效;另一方面又存在沙质荒漠化和生态环境退化等问题,其覆盖层结构、风沙来源,驱动因素和演化趋势等问题亟待解决。通过研究沙质荒漠化主要成因类型及其形成演变规律、成因机制和未来的发展趋势。以驱动因素-现今状态-影响趋势-地质解释为主线。分析认为：（1）、借助青藏高原隆升影响气候变化可能造就中国北方干旱气候的大背景,新构造运动为沙质荒漠化的孕育圈闭了沉积空间。同时,因构造抬升使得周围山体在外动力地质作用的推动下易于风化剥蚀沙质的沉积;（2）、气候干旱和水资源匮乏是沙质荒漠环境重要影响因素,河流的改道和变迁也是沙质荒漠化发生的动力条件。现代河流阶地和河漫滩上丰富的沙物质是现代沙质荒漠化和沙尘暴的沙源;（3）、空间上半干旱典型的气候带是多动力复合侵蚀的根本原因,时间上,季节性风沙和河流的更替使得复合侵蚀作用更为突出;（4）、人为活动对自然的改造速度是有目共睹的,不合理的人类活动是沙质荒漠化发生和发展的催化剂。在上述背景下,以地质成因的角度揭示沙质荒漠化形成与演化,为荒漠化的科学治理提供相应的地质依据。     

云南省石漠化调查及治理综述

经过全面调查,查明了云南石漠化分布、成因及资源环境条件。通过统一规划,多方协作,采取生物、工程、经济、社会建设等多方面的措施开展石漠化综合治理,取得了一定成效,遥感监测石漠化面积减少6.2 万hm2。其中,国土资源部门进行的地下水开发、土地及矿山地质环境整治、地质旅游资源开发等综合治理工作,消除或削弱了造成石漠化的自然或人为因素,标本兼治的效果突出。石漠化治理工作中的问题,主要有石漠化治理仍限于治点,区域面貌改观不大;考虑岩溶流域的系统性不够,选择治理方法未考虑对流域下游的影响;重植被恢复,对于区域经济和生态功能整体修复的考虑不足;调查变化情况监测手段落后,治理效果及动态不清;地下水资源的科学开发利用和依法管控尚待加强;部门之间协调整合不够,影响综合治理成效等。因此云南的石漠化治理任重道远,尚需做好第二期综合治理规划,采取有效措施,加大规划的执行力度。