From Framework to Action: The DESIRE Approach to Combat Desertification

Abstract

It has become increasingly clear that desertification can only be tackled through a multi-disciplinary approach that not only involves scientists but also stakeholders. In the DESIRE project such an approach was taken. As a first step, a conceptual framework was developed in which the factors and processes that may lead to land degradation and desertification were described. Many of these factors do not work independently, but can reinforce or weaken one another, and to illustrate these relationships sustainable management and policy feedback loops were included. This conceptual framework can be applied globally, but can also be made sitespecific to take into account that each study site has a unique combination of bio-physical, socio-economic and political conditions. Once the conceptual framework was defined, a methodological framework was developed in which the methodological steps taken in the DESIRE approach were listed and their logic and sequence were explained. The last step was to develop a concrete working plan to put the project into action, involving stakeholders throughout the process. This series of steps, in full or in part, offers explicit guidance for other organizations or projects that aim to reduce land degradation and desertification.

Towards integrated monitoring of REDD+

“…Such products are a testimony to the possibility of collecting and presenting information free of scale constraints, albeit also underlining the challenges in maintaining fine scale accuracy. Similarly, there is a recent emergence of several toolkits aiming at facilitating managing and policy making at jurisdictional or landscape scale, through the spatially-explicit representation of multidisciplinary data [26][27][28][29][30]31 ]. Typically, toolkits to support decision making differ in their specific data requirements with respect to integrated monitoring over time.…”

Multifaceted Impacts of Sustainable Land Management in Drylands: A Review

“…Lately WH systems are receiving renewed attention. Reduced contour tillage of cereals in semi-arid environments, Spain [82] 'infiltration a 30% runoff a 40% production costs a 50% erosion Reduced tillage of almonds and olives, Spain [76] 'plant, animal and habitat diversity 'infiltration arunoff/erosion 60% reduction a50% work load & energy 'water holding capacity 'SOM and a participative approach [22,[26][27][28]. Social involvement must be ensured for the adoption process of SLM practices to be achieved.…”

“…Lately WH systems are receiving renewed attention. Morocco [83] experimentation [22], a favorable cost-benefit ratio [23,24], local policy and tenure arrangements [25], and a participative approach [22,[26][27][28]. Social involvement must be ensured for the adoption process of SLM practices to be achieved.…”

“…' water availability for plants/livestock ' groundwater recharge ' soil deposits: 13 mm/yr) on average ' soil moisture a salinity <4 d S/m ' crop yields by 50%-100% ' farm income Sustainability 2016, 8,177 To upscale SLMs, there must be proper recognition of local tradit experimentation [22], a favorable cost-benefit ratio [23,24], local policy and tenu and a participative approach [22,[26][27][28]. Social involvement must be ensured for of SLM practices to be achieved.…”

Coupling spectral unmixing and multiseasonal remote sensing for temperate dryland land-use/land-cover mapping in Minqin County, China

“…Vegetation and soil properties are the most fundamental dryland biophysical variables for quantifying system function . To map land use, which links the dominant degradation processes with related biophysical and socio-economic indicators, becomes the consensus for the integrated monitoring and assessment (Somers et al 2011;LADA 2013;Hessel et al 2014), and it should be widely applied to better inform decision makers for the zero net land degradation goal (Chasek et al 2015;Grainger 2015).…”