Desertification is a global problem threatens over 250 million people living in dryland regions that cover approximately 35 million km2 in nearly 100 countries. Only recently has global climate change received increasing attention as a major factor that contributes to desertification. At the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro, the effect of climate and drought on land degradation was extensively discussed. Interactions of Desertification and Climate is a direct outcome of this meeting and was written to provide a comprehensive report for understanding relations between climate, drought, and land degradation and desertification.

Desertification is now a direct threat to over 250 million people around the world, and an indirect threat to a further 750 million people. In the last 25 years, desertification has become increasingly apparent in the dry sub-humid regions of the world. The authors of this book, two scientists jointly commisssioned by the United Nations Environment Programme and the World Meteorological Organization, have produced a referenced report on current knowledge of the interactions of desertification and climate in the drylands (excluding hyper-arid regions) of the world. They conclude with a series of recommendations for future dryland management strategy.

Impact of desertification on climate (Human impact on surface and atmospheric conditions in drylands. Impact of human activities in drylands on climate) -- Impact of climate on desertification (Impact of climate on soils and vegetation. Impact of climate on the hydrological cycle. Human land use in drylands and the influence of climate) -- Global climate change and the future of dryland climate (Linkages between interannual climatic variations in drylands and the global climate system. Future climate changes in drylands) -- Mitigation and rehabilitation strategies to combat desertification (Mitigation and rehabilitation strategies) -- Summary, conclusions and recommendations Bibliografía: P. 220-258