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Key problems in semi-arid areas in developing and transition countries are: water shortage; conflict over access to natural resources, often related to fundamental modifications of resource use systems; demographic growth; poor human health; an inadequate institutional set-up and poor management of institutions.
The processes of land degradation under conditions of high climatic variability - commonly known as 'desertification' - are most evident in these countries.
Semi-arid lands in Kenya (Photo: Urs Wiesmann)
The most vulnerable parts of semi-arid areas are in the transitional zones to sub-humid areas, where there has been an increasing pressure induced by population growth and in-migration from overpopulated agricultural areas.
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