A Handbook for the Field Assessment of Land Degradation - Hardcover

Stocking, Michael A.; Murnaghan, Niamh

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1138465410 ISBN 13: 9781138465411

Publisher: Routledge, 2019

Synopsis

With the increasing concern over rural livelihoods and the food security of poor communities in developing countries, it is vital that land quality is maintained. Yet, land degradation is widespread and is lowering the productive capacity of the land in these countries. This practical handbook presents simple, non-technical indicators for assessing land degradation in the field. Based on the perspective of the farmer, the methods selected lend meaning to real farming situations, helping the field professional to understand not only the impact of degradation but also the benefits to be gained from reversing it.

The handbook shows how to calculate indicators such as those of soil loss, explains the interpretation of results and in particular how combinations of different indicators can give conclusive evidence of the severity of land degradation. The focus of the book is firmly on understanding the farmer‘s interaction with the land, and how environmental protection, food security and the well-being of rural land users may be assured.

With detailed figures, photographs, worked examples and sample forms based on assessment techniques validated by field professionals in Africa, Asia and Latin America, this will be an essential training manual will be invaluable for field-workers in NGOs and in governmental and educational institutions. It will also be of interest to researchers and academics in development, environment and agriculture.

About this title

About the Author

Michael Stocking is Professor of Natural Resource Development in the School of Development Studies, University of East Anglia, Norwich. Niamh Murnaghan is a Research Associate with the Overseas Development Group at the University of East Anglia

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1138465410
• ISBN 13: 9781138465411
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 204