As a result of human activities and climate change the processes of desertification are progressing. Around 40% of the earth surface is threatened by risk of desertification, including wide areas of Mediterranean. Desertification, at the latest consequences represents the dismantling of all biospheric potential of the affected zone and its conversion into a barren and unproductive territory.

The effects of soil degradation not only menace the land agricultural potential of providing food and biomass but also its implies the alteration of the hydrological cycle, drastic decrease in biodiversity, development of feedback mechanisms affecting important climatic parameters, and in addition, the increase of the catastrophic consequences of hazards such as forest fires, landslides and floods.

The book collects the papers presented during the Workshop on Socio-economic consequences and human aspects of desertification process(Campus de Excelencia, Fuerteventura, 11th July of 2007) and also those presented in the Conference on Desertification and Environmental Security: Consequences and Prevention (Cosmo Caixa, Fundación "La Caixa" Madrid, 9-11th March of 2006), likewise it includes the Manifesto on Desertification, Poverty and Migrations, prepared in the Campus de Excelencia 2007 (Rubio, J.L; Andreu.V).