Living Land

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Networks to combat desertification in Portugal

Maria José Roxo, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa; Eugénio Sequeira, Liga para a Proteção da Natureza

and Lúcio do Rosário, Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests

ortugal adopted the United Nations Convention

to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) on 17 June

1994, some time before it came into effect on 26

December 1996. After 16 years, and having reviewed the

National Action Programme to Combat Desertification

(NAPCD) with a new version in December 2014 to align

it with the goals of the UNCCD Strategy 2008-2018, the

problems of desertification remain a reality in Portugal.

Despite significant progress with the inclusion of deserti-

fication in its main territorial management instruments,

the adoption of a communication strategy to increase

public awareness of the gravity of this phenomenon

continues to be one of the biggest challenges of this new

national action plan.

Portugal faces a troubling scenario based on the evidence

of global warming and climate change, in which there is an

increase in the occurrence of extreme weather phenomena

(droughts, floods, heatwaves and cold waves, among others).

It is crucial that governments and citizens are aware of the

causes and consequences of desertification. Both should seri-

ously look for solutions to mitigate and combat it, as there are

clear direct and indirect relationships between human activi-

ties, climate and the dynamics of ecosystems.

Considering the increasing problems related to natural

resources scarcity, such as soil and drinking water, one

method for calling attention to this situation has been to

organize a programme of events during the last five years.

This included conferences, workshops, photo exhibitions and

documentaries, developed particularly in the areas affected or

susceptible to desertification.

During this period several crucial steps were taken. In its

first phase the programme focused mainly on recognition of

the main causes of this serious environmental problem, with

particular attention to natural factors (soil, water, vegetation,

climate). In the second phase it was necessary to integrate

human factors (social, economic and cultural issues) for a

better understanding of such a complex phenomenon.

The research undertaken enabled a knowledge of the deep

natural causes which have contributed to the genesis of the

desertification phenomenon, including climatic extreme

events and droughts. Climatic extreme events include intense

precipitation periods that can cause the loss of organic matter

and destroy soil structure (erosion). Droughts are character-

Image: Photo M.ª Roxo

The landscape of desertified areas in the Mértola region (south-west Portugal), one of the most arid areas of the country

iving

and