Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #205399
Title: Global desertification: Building a science for dryland development

Author
item REYNOLDS, J - DUKE UNIV
item STAFFORD SMITH, D - CSIRO
item LAMBIN, E - UNIV. CATH. DE LOUVAIN
item TURNER, B - CLARK UNIV
item MORTIMORE, M - DRYLANDS RESEARCH
item BATTERBURY, S - UNIV MELBOURNE
item DOWNING, T - STOCKHOLM ENVIRO INST
item DOWLATADI, H - INST RESOURCES ENVIRO
item FERNANDEZ, R - IFEVA
item Herrick, Jeffrey - Jeff

Submitted to: Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/9/2007
Publication Date: 5/11/2007
Citation: Reynolds, J.F., Stafford Smith, D.M., Lambin, E.F., Turner, B.L., Mortimore, M., Batterbury, S., Downing, T.E., Dowlatadi, H., Fernandez, R.J., Herrick, J.E. 2007. Global desertification: Building a science for dryland development. Science. 316:847-851.

Interpretive Summary: This paper describes the Drylands Development Paradigm (DDP), a framework for the analysis of land degradation in arid regions. It considers both biophysical and socioeconomic issues. This paradigm consists of five Principles of particular significance in drylands and focuses on inter- and intra-relationships in dryland systems. The DDP represents fundamental tenets for addressing the future development of drylands. It addresses the needs of research, management, and policy communities. The Drylands Development Paradigm provides a roadmap for navigating through the inherent complexity of desertification and dryland development, synthesizing the needs of research, management, and policy communities.

Technical Abstract: This paper synthesizes and integrates new concepts and understanding of land degradation and recovery in the Drylands Development Paradigm (DDP). This paradigm consists of five Principles of particular significance in drylands and focuses on inter- and intra-relationships in dryland systems. The DDP is intended to represent a parsimonious set of tenets for addressing the future development of drylands. It provides both a transdisciplinary and a consultative roadmap for navigating through the inherent complexity of desertification, synthesizing the needs of research, management, and policy communities. The Drylands Development Paradigm provides both a transdisciplinary and a consultative roadmap for navigating through the inherent complexity of desertification and dryland development, synthesizing the needs of research, management, and policy communities.