Abstract
It’s a well known fact that land(scape) degradation is an ensemble of negative processes
extending over immense areas. The methodologies of physical and social geography are the
best tools for the investigation of land degradation processes, due to the complex nature of
these processes. It is well known that environmental factors contribute to land degradation
processes. Socio-economic factors and the role of human society is equally important, and
in some cases, even more important, than natural factors. Degradation processes within
subhumid, semi-arid and arid areas are defined as desertification processes to draw attention to the specific dangerous situation in these areas. Hungary signed the Convention on
Desertification, as increasing aridity is a real national danger, especially on the DanubeTisza interfluve. There are areas in Hungary corresponding to desertification definitions.
Thus, desertification research is an important challenge for Hungarian geography.
Key words: water erosion, land degradation, desertificaton, Danube–Tisza interfluve
Introduction
The degradation of the Earth’s surface (i.e. land degradation) is one of the
most severe problems of our times. The concept of land degradation originates
from soil degradation and it is often used as a synonym for soil degradation.
It is evident that if soil is degraded it has huge impacts on both the land and
landscape, because soil degradation prevents or impedes plant growth. Land
and soil are not identical notions, but they are often used interchangeably.
To avoid this confusion, I propose to use the term ‘landscape degradation.’
Landscape degradation means much more than just the degradation of the
uppermost layer of the Earth’s crust. It means the decline of all landscape
forming factors and of their synthesis, which is called landscape in physical
geography and landscape ecology. Landscape ecology and physical geography deal with various aspects of landscape development (Tóth, A.–Szalai,
Z. 2007). However, despite its importance, few scientific papers in Hungary
report degradation processes.Conclusions
Land (landscape) degradation is an ensemble of negative processes extending over immense areas. The methodologies of physical and social geography
are the best tools for the investigation of land degradation processes, due to
the complex nature of these processes. It is well known that environmental
factors contribute to land degradation processes. Socio-economic factors and
the role of human society is equally important, and in some cases, even more
important, than natural factors.
Land degradation was first appreciated by soil science as where the
possibilities of agricultural use on degraded land are restricted or prevented
because of soil degradation. Various forms of soil degradation are striking phenomena themselves, with saline areas being a good example. If the degraded
area is not used for agricultural production, then the degradation of natural
vegetation can also be striking. Land(scape) degradation processes are also
present in Hungary, offering a major challenge to Hungarian geography.
Degradation processes within subhumid, semi-arid and arid areas are
defi ned as desertifi cation processes to draw attention to the specifi c dangerous situation in these areas. The poorest regions of the Earth belong to here,
totalling 40% of the Earth’s surface. These regions are continuously struggling
with famine. There is debate about the defi nition of desertifi cation. Should the
threshold values of the P/ETP index be taken literally, in which case the term
desertifi cation does not refer to desert formation? Or should the defi nition relate to the possibility of desert formation? Or it should it be restricted to those
territories where the result of desertifi cation will or may really lead to desert
conditions? Hungary signed the Convention on Desertifi cation, as increasing
aridity is a real national danger, especially on the Danube-Tisza interfl uve.
There are areas in Hungary corresponding to desertifi cation defi nitions. Thus,
desertifi cation research is an important challenge for Hungarian geography.
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Because of the complexity of the processes, future desertifi cation research should concentrate on revealing all environmental and landscape ecological aspects of the problem, aimed at presenting a full ecological synthesis
of the landscape. Based on this synthesis, precise and practical suggestions
should be developed on how to arrest land degradation, or how to redirect
it towards positive directions, that is towards landscape reclamation and rehabilitation. 我要在小组汇报中负责文章的introduction和conclusion部分(如上)的汇报,时长五分钟,为我准备一份ppt大纲