Changing desert areas for land use implies a lot of ecological problems. These and related ones are dealt with in this book covering various interdisciplinary and international aspects. Large areas in arid and semi-arid regions are already polluted in various ways. One of the biggest problems is the anthropogenic salinization by inadequate means of agriculture and irrigation. Additionally, most arid areas in the world are dramatically overgrazed. Methods and practices of a sustainable land use in deserts are urgently needed in many arid regions. This book gives a broad survey on some of the affected regions of the world as well as some case studies from elsewhere (Aral Sea, Negev desert, Namib desert etc.). Thus, basic and applied sciences are brought together. Water management in deserts, grazing systems or reclamation of desertified areas are among the topics of this book, as well as social and economic aspects.

Deserts, Land Use and Desertification

River Diversion, Irrigation, Salinization, Desertification - an Inevitable Succession
I: The Aral Sea Crisis
The Aral Sea Crisis Region
Flora of the Dry Seafloor of the Aral Sea
Vegetation Dynamics on the Dry Seafloor of the Aral Sea
Methods of Conservation and Restoration of Vegetation Cover on the Aral Sea Coast
Vegetation Dynamics on the Syrdarya Delta and Modern Land Use
Ecological Basis for Botanical Diversity Conservation within the Amudarya and Syrdarya River Deltas
The Tugai Forests of Floodplain of the Amudarya River: Ecology, Dynamics and Their Conservation
Soil Crusts in the Amudarya River Delta: Properties and Formation
Irrigation and Land Degradation in the Aral Sea Basin
Ecology of the Aqueous Medium in the Area Surrounding the Aral Sea
Potable Water: Research into Seasonal Changes and Conditions in the Aral Sea Region
II: Salt Stress
Halophytes on the Dry Sea Floor of the Aral Sea
Halophytes: Structure and Adaptation
Environmental State and an Analysis of Phytogenetic Resources of Halophytic Plants for Rehabilitation and Livestock Feeding in Arid and Sandy Deserts of Uzbekistan
Salinity: A Major Enemy of Sustainable Agriculture
III: Impact of Grazing
Remarkable Differences in Desertification Processes in the Northern and Southern Richtersveld (Northern Namaqualand, Republic of South Africa)
Colour Plates
How Grazing Turns Rare Seedling Recruitment Events to Non-Events in Arid Environments
Vegetation Degradation in Northeastern Jordan
Impact of Grazing on the Vegetation of South Sinai, Egypt
Arid Rangeland Management Supported by Dynamic Spatially Explicit Simulation Models
IV: Desertification Processes and Monitoring
Remote Sensing of Surface Properties. The Keyto Land Degradation and Desertification Assessments
Evaluation of Potential Land Use Sites in Dry Areas of Burkina Faso with the Help of Remote Sensing
Degradation of the Vegetation in the Central Kyzylkum Desert (Uzbekistan)
Modern Geomorphological Processes on the Kazakhstanian Coast of the Caspian Sea and Problems of Desertification
Anthropogenic Transformation of Desert Ecosystems in Mongolia
Assessment of the Modern State of Sand-Desert Vegetation in Kazakhstan
V: Reclamation
Water-Harvesting Efficiency in Arid and Semiarid Areas
The Effects of Landscape Structure on Primary Productivity in Source-Sink Systems
Sedimentary Environments in the Desiccated Aral Sea Floor: Vegetation Recovery and Prospects for Reclamation
Seeding Experiments on the Dry Aral Sea Floor for Phytomelioration
Rehabilitation of Areas of Irrigation Now Derelicted Because of Strong Salinization in Ecologically Critical Zones of Priaralia
Desert Soil Recultivation and Monitoring of (Phyto-) Toxicity: Pilot Project in Three Phases Lasting for 4 Years
Contributions to a Sustainable Management of the Indigenous Vegetation in the Foreland of Cele Oasis - A Project Report from the Taklamakan Desert
The Control of Drift Sand on the Southern Fringe of the Taklamakan Desert - an Example from the Cele-Oasis
The Role of Biological Soil Crusts on Desert Sand Dunes in the Northwestern Negev, Israel
Restoration of Disturbed Areas in the Mediterranean - a Case Study in a Limestone Quarry
Indigenous Agroforestry for Sustainable Development of the Area around Lake Nasser, Egypt
Ziziphus - a Multipurpose Fruit Tree for Arid Regions
Root Morphology of Wheat Genotypes Grown in Residual Moisture
Field Studies in Solar Photocatalysis for Detoxification of OrganicChemicals in Waters and Effluents
VI: National Programs
Activity of the Consulting Centre to Combat Desertification in Turkmenistan
Desertification in China and Its Control
Environmental Problems of the Southern Region of Kazakhstan
National Strategy and Action Plan to Combat Desertification in Kazakstan
VII: Social and Economic Aspects
Economic-Demographic Strategies and Desertification: Interactions in Low-Income Countries
Final Remarks.