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**4** 

*USA* 

Peter F. Ffolliott

*University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona* 

**Sustainable Use of Natural Resources of** 

**Environmental Degradation and Desertification** 

One-half of the world's countries have portions or all of their land areas in hyper-arid, arid, or semi-arid climatological zones. These lands together with their sub-humid margins and savannas cover nearly 45 million square kilometers or approximately 30 percent of the earth's land surface. These lands collectively comprise the dryland regions of the world where severe ecological degradation and desertification is occurring at alarming rates and threatening the livelihoods of over 900 million inhabitants (Middleton & Thomas, 1997; Mainguet, 1999; Altschul 2008). Applications of carefully planned land-use practices can often halt and eventually reverse the processes of environmental degradation and desertification on these landscapes. Importantly, the formulation and application of these interventions must be based on sound technical knowledge, the interrelationships of human, ecological, and socio-economic factors, and responsive policy options. One problem, however, is that many planners, managers, and policy-makers have often considered the drylands regions as wastelands and, therefore, do not appreciate their critical environmental

The chapter reviews the land-use issues, assesses the weaknesses, and reviews the options available for the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources in the dryland regions of the world. The information presented is based largely on publications and office reports of the past 35 years. After the general features of dryland environments and how people use their natural resources are discussed, challenges to the sustainable use of natural resources are considered. The close correlation between the dryland regions of the world and the occurrence of environmental degradation and desertification is then indicated. Finally, polices necessary to sustain the use of land and natural resources while controlling environmental degradation and desertification including strategies for policy

Dryland environments are characterized by wide differences in temperatures, inadequate and unreliable rainfall events, seasons when rain falls, and frequent conditions of aridity. Some of these environments have excessive heat while others are cold and dry areas.

role and potential contributions to the welfare of people.

**2. General features of dryland environments** 

implementation are described.

**1. Introduction** 

**Dryland Regions in Controlling of** 
