Evaluation of benefits and limitations of a Desertification Adaptation Model framework for sustainable land management in areas under desertification risk

Abstract

The LIFE project Desert-Adapt (LIFE16 CCA/IT/000011) has designed a Desertification Adaptation Model (DAM) framework of land management to respond to two of the most critical problems experienced by farmers, public land and communities of the Mediterranean Basin, given the need to adapt to current Climate Change and reduce or counteract the increasing phenomenon of land degradation and desertification risk. These two issues are interrelated, as land degradation often characterizes fragile areas where the co-occurrence of climatically unfavourable conditions, mostly prolonged aridity and high temperatures, and inappropriate land management, leads to loss of ecosystem quality, biodiversity, productivity, agronomic activity abandonment, economic impoverishment and social crisis. The key concept behind the DAM approach is that successful long-term economic self-sufficiency and social balance, in areas under climatic and degradation risk, can only be achieved with land management strategies tailored to maintaining and enhancing the land resource base, i.e the natural capital associated with land resources and ecosystem services. The model is being tested in 9 areas under desertification risk covering almost 1000h belonging to municipalities or private farmers in southern Portugal, Spain and Italy. Ecological, economic and social functions, as well as adaptation measures are being tested to evaluate the feasibility of the proposed solutions, their benefits and immediate or long-term impacts and current limitations to the wider application of the proposed strategy.