Desertificação e reversibilidade dos problemas de desertificação

Abstract

The desertification process is related to land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from climate change and human activities. The effects of desertification are notorious at local, regional, national and global scale. Land degradation can be caused by erosion, salinization, compaction and reduction of nutrients. As a consequence of land degradation there will be a disruption of biological cycles on which life depends, as well as social development problems. Nowadays it is completely necessary and urgent to combat desertification processes. It's much more effective to prevent the degradation of these lands than reverse this process. The use of ecological restoration techniques are most appropriate for arid ecosystems affected by desertification. Portugal is one of the most affected European countries by desertification, approximately 60% of the territory is susceptible to desertification and drought. Over the past 50 years the area susceptible to desertification has increased. The PANCD is being applied to tackle this problem. The Alqueva Dam construction, Alentejo, has introduced several changes and impacts on the environment that can lead to desertification on this region of Portugal