Book Review: Ajai; Rimjhim, B. Desertification and Land Degradation: Concept to Combating; Routledge: Abingdon, UK, 2022; ISBN: 978-0-8153-6172-5

Desertification and land degradation (DLD) are some of the most silent, consistent, and dangerous threats to mankind. Although the threats date back several hundred years, it was only over the past few decades that the rates of degradation have reached an alarming level. By knowing the drivers of DLD and understanding its processes, impacts, and solutions, each piece of information is relevant to mitigating this evil. There are several books presently dealing with this subject. However, it is difficult to find one that provides comprehensive details on each and every aspect of DLD, as mentioned above. Recently, CRC Press published the book Desertification and Land Degradation: Concept to Combating, written by Prof. Ajai and Dr. Rimjhim Bhatnagar, which covers all the elements of the subject in a very simple, lucid, and comprehensive manner.

The most striking feature of this book is that it addresses the entire gamete of land degradation and desertification, starting from the fundamental concepts to the techniques and implementation of combating strategies, thereby making it useful for students, researchers, and professionals working in the field of DLD. It explains something as basic as the term ‘land’, before advancing to the concept of land degradation and beyond. Students as well as researchers are often confused between land degradation and soil degradation; deserts and desertification; and desertification and wastelands. The subtle differences between each of these topics are very clearly explained in the book. Another novel feature is a dedicated chapter on ocean biological deserts, which is often not discussed, but is extremely important as the ocean plays a significant role in the Earth’s carbon and energy budgets. Also, the generous display of satellite images for a spatial-level understanding is an additional added value, especially for the people engaged in the implementation of the policies on the ground. Unlike other books, this one provides details on the methods for remote sensing image interpretation and classification systems for the extraction of information on land degradation processes and their severity.

Here is a brief overview of the book. Chapter 1 deals with the historical perspective of DLD. It clarifies several misconceptions about the causes and drivers as well as the origination and evolution of DLD. This chapter, along with Chapter 3, can be termed the steppingstone to building up knowledge in this field. In Chapter 3, the causes and drivers of DLD, both anthropogenic and biophysical, are explained. Furthermore, Chapter 4 describes various physical, chemical, and biological processes of land degradation. This includes soil erosion, water logging, soil compaction, mass movement, frost shattering and frost heaving, salinization and alkalization, soil acidification, soil nutrient depletion, vegetal degradation, soil organic carbon loss, urbanization, mining, and quarrying. Chapter 5 deals with the impact of DLD on surface physical properties, the environment, people, and the social system. Moreover, the concept of DLD indicators, required for mapping, monitoring, and impact assessment, is introduced in Chapter 7. In addition to this, many of the conceptual, methodological, and technological advances that have taken place during the past few decades in mapping, monitoring, and developing strategies towards combating DLD are examined and discussed. There is a dedicated chapter on remote sensing and geographic information systems, the newly emerging technologies for the mapping and monitoring of natural resources and DLD.

After explaining the fundamental concepts, the next step is knowing the DLD mapping and monitoring techniques, which are described in Chapter 9. This includes both the DLD mapping through an indicator-based approach as well as a process-based approach, which also includes many case studies from all over the world. Going further ahead, the chapter on desertification vulnerability assessment clarifies the subtle differences between the terms risk, hazard, and vulnerability, in addition to the discussions on the models for vulnerability assessment. In the subsequent chapters, methods for combating DLD are introduced, along with details on specific methods for combating different types of land degradation processes. Several case studies from different parts of the world enrich the book.

Brief accounts of the United Nations Conference on Desertification (UNCOD), the Earth Summit of 1992, and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) provided in Chapter 12 apprise the readers of the important interventions evolved and implemented over the years through the international platform to combat and mitigate DLD at the global level. It also provides an overview of important programs, such as GLASOD, LADA, GLADA, GLADIS, Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, IPBES, the World Atlas of Desertification, and the Bonn Challenge. The last chapter is on Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN), where the reader is introduced to the concepts and implementation mechanisms for this UNCCD program. Here, the UN’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are also briefly described.

To sum up, this book builds up the subject of desertification and land degradation in a coherent way, encompassing the fundamental concepts and combating strategies. This book could become a ‘go-to’ book for graduate students, researchers, and professionals working in mapping, monitoring, and combating desertification and land degradation.