Full Description
Drylands, which cover over half the world's area, have witnessed rapid development, exploitation and change with the discovery of mineral reserves, urbanization and population growth. Environmental management is critical to the conservation and sustainable use of resources. This comprehensive text offers a systematic study of the physical nature of drylands and the history of human response to and uses of these harsh landscapes. Detailed case studies, including urban as well as pastoral drylands from California to Soviet Central Asia, the Middle East, the Sahara and Australia, contrast different management approaches and problems.
Contents
Part 1: Systematic Study of Drylands 1. Nature of the Dryland Environment 2. Human Use of Drylands 3. Intensive Use of the Dryland Environment 4. Extensive Use of the Dryland Environment Part 2: Regional Resource Management - Case Studies 5. the Sahara and Central Australia: Pstoralism Under Different Management Systems 6. River Basin Development: the Nile and the Colorado 7. Oases: Isfahan and Salt Lake City 8. The Great Plains of the USA: Changing Patterns of Exploitation 9. Rapid Economic Development in the Gulf: The Impact of Oil Revenues 10. Israel: Integrated Water Development 11. Soviet Central Asia: Water Transfer and Irrigation Development 12. The Los Angeles Conurbation: Problems of Environmental Management and Resource Provision Part 3: Prospect 13. The Future of the Drylands Bibliography Index
