This open access book presents sixteen case studies from Spain to explore the complex realities of landscapes and situations commonly linked to desertification.
The term desertification, burdened by its colonial origins, is often misunderstood, frequently reduced to the idea of deserts expanding or seen as a flaw in arid landscapes that must be "corrected" through greening efforts. Despite decades of conceptual refinement leading to a precise definition, the term remains widely misinterpreted in both public discourse and academic contexts. Moreover, there is still no standardized methodology for measuring it.
The 2018 edition of the World Atlas of Desertification exemplifies this conceptual ambiguity: paradoxically, it does not include a single map explicitly showing desertification. This book seeks to cut through that ambiguity by using clearly defined case studies to foster a deeper understanding, an essential first step toward addressing the issue effectively. These case studies illustrate the specific criteria that must be met for a situation to be classified as desertification. Escaping this conceptual labyrinth is key to laying the foundation for coherent and effective solutions.
This book is an essential reading for researchers, scholars, and policymakers in environmental science, geography, and related disciplines. It offers valuable insights for anyone interested in understanding and tackling the urgent challenge of land degradation in arid and semi-arid regions.
Jaime Martínez Valderrama holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Madrid. He specializes in Desertification and Global Change, with a primary research focus on understanding the relationship between land use and its environmental impacts, particularly in arid regions. His work involves the use of integrated simulation models that link socioeconomic variables with their biophysical impact. He has published numerous articles in high-impact journals, and his research has been utilized by various public and private institutions. He is also dedicated to science communication, regularly writing popular science articles, contributing to various science outreach blogs, and serving as editor of Arida Cutis. Additionally, he is the author of Deserts and Desertification and Desertification, Land in Troubled Waters. Currently, he leads the ATLAS project, which aims to develop a desertification map for Spain and to compile all the information related with this problem.
Jorge Olcina Cantos (Alicante, 1966) Degree in Geography and History and a master's degree in Land Use Planning from the University of Alicante. Full Professor on Regional Geographic Analysis at the University of Alicante, where he teaches subjects on Land Use Planning, Climatology, and Natural Hazards. He has focused his research on various geographical topics (Climatology, Natural Hazards, Land Use Planning, Theory of Geography). He is the author or co-author of more than two hundred publications (scientific papers, book chapters, and monographs). He has participated in several research projects on geographical and historical topics developed at the University of Alicante. Official speaker at the International Year of Planet Earth (2008), declared by UNESCO. He is a visiting professor at universities in Spain, Europe, and Latin America. Member of the Editorial Board of various scientific journals on geographical and environmental topics. He was an evaluator for the Fifth United Nations IPCC Report on Climate Change. President of the Spanish Geography Association (AGE) (2017-2021). Director of the Chair of Climate Change at the University of Alicante.
