The environmental, economic, and social development impact of desertification in Iraq: a review on desertification control measures and mitigation strategies

The threat of desertification is considered a global concern that occurs in many environments in different parts of the world, where extensive lands are transformed gradually into desert or semi-desert areas, and this causes economic and health issues. Iraq and many other parts of the Middle East ar...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental monitoring and assessment 2022-06, Vol.194 (6), p.440-440, Article 440
Main Authors: Al-Obaidi, Jameel R., Yahya Allawi, Mohammed, Salim Al-Taie, Bilal, Alobaidi, Khalid H., Al-Khayri, Jameel M., Abdullah, Sumaiyah, Ahmad-Kamil, E. I.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural biotechnology
Agricultural land
Agriculture
Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution
Climate change
Deforestation
Desertification
Deserts
Drought
Earth and Environmental Science
Ecology
Economics
Ecotoxicology
Environment
Environmental impact
Environmental Management
Environmental monitoring
Environmental science
Food security
Human factors
Impact analysis
Irrigation practices
Irrigation water
Land degradation
Land use
Mitigation
Monitoring/Environmental Analysis
Oases
Outdoor air quality
Plant cover
Population growth
Rain
Reforestation
Rehabilitation
Restoration
Salinity
Security
Social change
Society
Strategic planning
Vegetation
Vegetation cover
Water scarcity
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Summary:The threat of desertification is considered a global concern that occurs in many environments in different parts of the world, where extensive lands are transformed gradually into desert or semi-desert areas, and this causes economic and health issues. Iraq and many other parts of the Middle East are facing desertification threats in the last twenty years. Despite the significance of this issue, relevant reviews are scarce. The removal of vegetation cover, overgrazing, deforestation in times of war, poor irrigation practices and water scarcity are some of the main causes of desertification in Iraq. Fighting desertification requires cooperative efforts including the utilization of innovative practices, biotechnological approaches, restoration of oases, continuous reforestation, and rehabilitation of agricultural lands. The objective of this review article is to discuss the causes of desertification and land degradation in Iraq, highlighting the main natural and human factors involved, and the consequent impact on the national security, economy, society, and health. In addition, it suggests recommendations for policies and actions that can be integrated to mitigate this problem.
ISSN:0167-6369
1573-2959
DOI:10.1007/s10661-022-10102-y