Aspects of the management of dryland ecosystems are discussed under the following headings: desert environment; desert vegetation; plant selection; man and dryland ecosystems; interpreting and forecasting man's effect on dryland ecosystems in rural and urban areas; and techniques for developing balanced ecosystems with plants (survey and master planning implementation). Details of general vegetation groups; plant selection; plant species and uses; and environmental considerations for agricultural development are given in appendices.

The topics considered are: the desert environment; scientific methods for determining aridity( Köppen's clasification system, Thornthwaite's and Meigs' indexes); desert vegetation; plant selection for deserts; human acitivity and dryland ecosystems; the interpretation and forecasting of mans' effect on dryland ecosystems in rural and urban areas; desert reclamation by planting. The following desert environments are discussed( North African Eurasian zone; North American desert zone; South African deserts; Australian deserts; North African and Asian deserts; etc)