Land Use and Degradation in a Desert Margin: The Northern Negev

Degradation in a range of land uses was examined across the transition from arid to semi-arid zone northern Negev desert, representative developments use taking place throughout West Asia and North Africa region. Primary production used as an index important aspect dryland degradation. It derived data provided by Landsat measurements at 0.1 ha resolution over 2500 km2 study region—the first assessment degradation large area desert margin suitable for interpretation terms human activities. The Local NPP Scaling (LNS) method enabled comparisons between observed potential, nondegraded, reference NPP. potential calculated normalizing actual remove effects environmental conditions that are not related anthropogenic Of entire area, about 50% found have significantly lower than its potential. degree ranged small pasture, around informal settlements, minimally managed cropping, pine plantation, high commercial cropping extreme low-density afforestation. This result unexpected drylands is often attributed pastoralism, afforestation said offer remediation prevention further damage.