IntroductionDrylands. Opportunities, challenges, and threats

  1. Martinez-Valderrama, Jaime 1
  2. Guirado, Emilio 1
  3. Maestre, Fernando T. 1
  1. 1 Universitat d'Alacant
    info

    Universitat d'Alacant

    Alicante, España

    ROR https://ror.org/05t8bcz72

Journal:
Mètode Science Studies Journal: Annual Review

ISSN: 2174-3487,  2174-9221

Year of publication: 2023

Issue Title: Science. The Genesis of Ideas

Issue: 13

Type: Article

DOI: 10.7203/METODE.13.24248 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openOpen access editor

More publications in: Mètode Science Studies Journal: Annual Review

Sustainable development goals

Abstract

Hyper-arid, arid, semi-arid and dry-sub-humid climate zones (all of them considered drylands) occupy over 40 % of the Earth’s land surface and are home to more than 2 billion people. Contrary to the popular image of this important set of biomes, drylands are home to 36 % of carbon stores, 30 % of forested areas, 50 % of the world’s livestock, and 44 % of croplands. These figures give an idea of their social, economic, and ecological importance – the focus of the monograph’s first article – and argue for the need to know and understand their functioning and manage human activities in an increasingly changing climate scenario. This is key to enabling their development and preventing their desertification.

Data source: Dialnet