The impact of desertification on human and economic development in Anbar Province.

Abstract

Desertification is one of the most serious environmental problems facing the world and has become one of the greatest challenges humanity faces this century. This is due to its negative impact on a large number of countries, especially in areas affected by arid and semi-arid climatic conditions or even semi-humid regions. Therefore, this study aims to clarify the causes and factors behind this issue, showing that both natural and economic factors play a significant role in the emergence of this phenomenon. In Iraq, the area affected by desertification is 38.5%, while the area threatened by desertification amounts to 54.4% of Iraq's total area. The research problem lies in the development or increase of desertified areas and those threatened by desertification as a result of the negative impacts of natural and economic factors. Desertification warns us of many serious issues in the near and distant future, as it causes a significant decline in the number of date palms, which has decreased from about 30 million due to wars, water scarcity, agricultural diseases, and neglect, to around 12 million date palms.

The lack of organizational plans or government attention to mitigating the phenomenon of desertification has led to the deterioration, spread, and expansion of drought in very large areas in Anbar province.

It is expanding significantly in various directions, and thus this phenomenon has affected the environmental and economic situation in the study area. Here, the research aims to clarify the effects and the areas affected by desertification, their environmental impacts, and their economic effects in Iraq in general, and Al-Anbar Governorate in particular. It also seeks to provide solutions to address this phenomenon and mitigate this problem. Accordingly, the researcher has reached important conclusions, among which is the necessity of raising awareness among the local population and increasing attention from the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the National Center to develop organized plans to combat and address the phenomenon of desertification