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The Economics of Desertification, Land Degradation, and Drought

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Figure 2.7—Annual loss <strong>of</strong> NPP in eastern <strong>and</strong> southern Africa, 1981–2003<br />

Source: ISRIC – World Soil Information, 2008<br />

In GLADA, only simple correlation analysis with l<strong>and</strong> degradation was applied. For example,<br />

the positive association between population density <strong>and</strong> l<strong>and</strong> degradation does not control for many<br />

other factors that could simultaneously affect l<strong>and</strong> degradation. <strong>The</strong> study also did not attempt to<br />

analyze other factors that could affect l<strong>and</strong> degradation, even though it generated pixel-level<br />

socioeconomic data that could be used to analyze the effect <strong>of</strong> socioeconomic drivers <strong>of</strong> l<strong>and</strong><br />

degradation; such analysis would help in underst<strong>and</strong>ing the required policies <strong>and</strong> strategies for<br />

addressing l<strong>and</strong> degradation. Furthermore, the study did not evaluate the cost <strong>of</strong> l<strong>and</strong> degradation <strong>and</strong><br />

the benefits <strong>of</strong> preventing l<strong>and</strong> degradation <strong>and</strong> rehabilitating degraded l<strong>and</strong>s.<br />

<strong>The</strong> simple relationship <strong>of</strong> yield <strong>and</strong> l<strong>and</strong> degradation is likely to be masked by other practices<br />

used to increase productivity in degraded areas. For example, we examined the yield trend in African<br />

countries that experienced the most severe loss <strong>of</strong> NPP reported by GLADA (Figure 2.7) <strong>and</strong><br />

observed an upward trend <strong>of</strong> major cereals in eastern <strong>and</strong> southern Africa <strong>and</strong> in Cameroon (Figures<br />

2.8–2.10).<br />

Figure 2.8—Yield trend <strong>of</strong> major cereals in southern Africa, 1981–2009<br />

Yield, tons/ha<br />

5.00<br />

4.00<br />

3.00<br />

2.00<br />

1.00<br />

0.00<br />

Source: FAOSTAT.<br />

Note: nes = not elsewhere specified.<br />

y = -0.003x + 0.343<br />

square kilometer, while the average population density in Sub-Saharan Africa is 35 people per square kilometer.<br />

22<br />

y = 0.089x + 1.094<br />

y = 0.012x + 1.212<br />

y = 0.001x + 0.621<br />

1983<br />

1984<br />

1985<br />

1986<br />

1987<br />

1988<br />

1989<br />

1990<br />

1991<br />

1992<br />

1993<br />

1994<br />

1995<br />

1996<br />

1997<br />

1998<br />

1999<br />

2000<br />

2001<br />

2002<br />

2003<br />

2004<br />

2005<br />

2006<br />

2007<br />

2008<br />

2009<br />

Cereals, nes Maize Millet Rice, paddy<br />

.

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