Informations et ressources scientifiques
sur le développement des zones arides et semi-arides

Titre : Regional evaluation of desertification hazards in the arid lands of western Rajasthan

Auteur : Siddiqui, Azizur Rahman

Université de soutenance : Aligarh Muslim University

Grade : Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) 2003

Résumé partiel
Regional Evaluation of Desertification Hazards in the Arid lands of Western Rajasthan reveals varying degree of environmental vulnerability to desertification in its spatial context. An account and assessment of several indicators which are the major causes of desertification hazards in the study have been incorporated. Fragility of ecosystems in western Rajasthan has been evaluated on the basis of several Meteorological, Topographical, Hydrographic, Edaphic, Biotic, Anthropogenic and Land use/Land cover indicators. An analysis of these Indicators, reveals that there is a regular gradient of increasing desertification hazards towards the western frontiers of the region due to a cumulative effect of the increasing environmental severity, rapid population growth and the intense biotic pressure of the livestock on the crop husbandry. Desertification hazards have been evaluated on the basis of cumulative representation of twenty six selected indicators of the physical, biotic and human environment. Cumulative vulnerability is a crucial composite index to represent to the desertification intensity. Data of each desertification Indicator for the seventy three unit areas of western Rajasthan were processed, classified and mapped. To avoid an element of bias all the factors were attributed equal weightage in the cumulative scoring. Although it might not reveal a true picture, yet it may furnish a relatively sceneries of desertification vulnerability. In order to assess the relative vulnerability of different environments in western Rajasthan vulnerability rankings were cumulated.

Mots clés : Regional, Evaluation, Desertification, Hazards, Lands

Présentation et version intégrale (Shodhganga)