The Correlation between Economic Decline and
Social Disintegration as a result of Desertification
and Land Degradation in Drylands

Land degradation is a human induced or natural process which negatively affects the capacity of land to function effectively within an ecosystem, while desertification is land degradation occurring in arid, semiarid and dry sub humid areas of the world. Land degradation is both a part and consequence of environmental changes on land leading to loss of valuable land resources. Loss of productive agricultural lands in some parts of the world where livelihood is contingent upon farming pushes existence to margin of cultivation with only the fittest surviving from the struggle for, and clashes on land. Desertification involves the loss of biological or economic productivity and complexity in croplands, pastures, and woodlands. It is due mainly to climate variability and unsustainable human activities. Desertification and land degradation does not only decrease productivity of natural resources from which the poor rest their livelihood but a threat to economic development of affected nations. Countries that continue to accept disappearance of tree cover, land degradation, expansion of deserts, loss of plant and animal species, air and water pollution and the changing chemistry of the atmosphere, must also accept economic decline and social disintegration.

Possible Subject Coverages:

• Causes and effects of deforestation and land degradation
• Analysis of the pattern of deforestation in different countries of the world
• Socioeconomic impacts of desertification on economic development
• Traditional land use systems and land degradation
• Estimation of economic losses resulting from desertification – case studies
• Gender empowerment and sustainable poverty alleviation in drylands

Please send your abstracts and questions to Dr. I. Ogunlade: ogunlade@isdehs.com

Please note that the deadline for submitting your abstract is October 15 , 2006

Convenor(s):

Dr. I. Ogunlade
Department of
Agricultural Extension and Rural Development
University of Ilorin, Nigeria
ogunlade@isdehs.com

Elijah A. Obayelu
Department of Agricultural Economics
University of Ibadan, Nigeria

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please contact us at:
info@isdehs.com