Desertification and land degradation in Iraq

The most general definition of desertification is defined by UN Convention as a process of "land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors which include climatic variations and human activities¿. Desertification is considered as one of the most serious problems confronting the international community. It is affecting the lives of 20 percent of the total world population and spreading at a rate of 6 million hectares per year. Iraq is a land of great variation, which is characterized by: vast desert, extensive alluvial plains and high folded mountains. Vast areas of productive lands are subject to desertification that reduces their productivity. This book tackles the main causes, processes and indicators of soil degradation in Iraq and shows some results of using Remote Sensing, GIS, and Spectral Indices (NDVI) in the study of desertification and land degradation. The process of desertification makes a significant contribution to the degradation of life - sustaining biogeochemical cycles, spread of object poverty and loss of human lives.