1. LT COL Konstantinos Brotsikas Hellenic National Defence General Staff
DESERTIFICATION, A CHALLENGE (THREAT) FOR THE EARTH
LT COL Konstantinos Brotsikas
Head Section CEP
Hellenic National Defence General Staff

2. «What now remains in comparison with what was once, like as the
DESERTIFICATION, A CHALLENGE (THREAT) FOR THE EARTH
«What now remains in comparison with what was once, like as the
skeleton of a sick man with all fat and flesh of the earth has disappeared and has been left a bare frame mainland», Plato 250 BC

3. «Desertification is defined as land degradation
DESERTIFICATION, A CHALLENGE (THREAT) FOR THE EARTH
«Desertification is defined as land degradation
in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas
resulting from various factors, including climatic
variations and human activities»
(UN Convention to Combat Desertification, 1994)

4. Desertification is not the promotion or
DESERTIFICATION, A CHALLENGE (THREAT) FOR THE EARTH
Desertification is not the promotion or
expansion of desert areas as a result of forces
that have their starting point in the desert.
Actually desertification is a combination of
changes in a dry residential area, converted
into uninhabited desert.

5. Main causes that may lead to soil desertification
DESERTIFICATION, A CHALLENGE (THREAT) FOR THE EARTH
Main causes that may lead to soil desertification
i. Overgrazing (exceeding pasturing)
ii. Deforestation
iii. Improper use of farming machines
iv. Lowering of the groundwater table

6. Desertification Causes
DESERTIFICATION, A CHALLENGE (THREAT) FOR THE EARTH
Desertification Causes
LOSS OF SOIL & VEGETATION
HEAVY RAINS
TOPOGRAPHY
DESERTIFICATION
SOCIAL & ECONOMIC FACTORS
POOR LAND MANAGEMENT
FIRES
DROUGHT
CLIMATIC FACTORS
Source: International Conference on Mediterranean Desertification (Report EUR EN)

7. Main Negative Effects of Desertification of the Land
DESERTIFICATION, A CHALLENGE (THREAT) FOR THE EARTH
Main Negative Effects of Desertification of the Land
i. Soil erosion
ii. The displayed loss of soil structure
iii. The final quality degradation of soils

8. Source: University of South Brittany, France
DESERTIFICATION, A CHALLENGE (THREAT) FOR THE EARTH
Source: University of South Brittany, France

9. Source: Hellenic Committee to Combat Desertification
DESERTIFICATION, A CHALLENGE (THREAT) FOR THE EARTH
Source: Hellenic Committee to Combat Desertification

10. Hellenic Action Plan, Response Desertification
DESERTIFICATION, A CHALLENGE (THREAT) FOR THE EARTH
Hellenic Action Plan, Response Desertification
i. Encouraging reforestation by planting appropriate plants
ii. Promotion of new techniques and practices
iii.Increased attention to irrigation systems
iv. Developing new practices of irrigation water use by
promoting management plans and re-using water produced by waste water treatment plants
v. Delimitation of threatened areas
vi. Informing all stakeholders for the risks and effects

11. Hellenic Action Plan, Response Desertification
DESERTIFICATION, A CHALLENGE (THREAT) FOR THE EARTH
Hellenic Action Plan, Response Desertification
vii. Ensuring adequacy of water resources of the country by reducing losses and waste of irrigation water
viii. Protection of agricultural grounds from erosion and salinization with the application of sustainable farming systems
ix. Protection of forest ecosystems
x. Improvement of the land degradation
xi. Encouragement of international collaborations

12. The cost only for Greece is estimated
DESERTIFICATION, A CHALLENGE (THREAT) FOR THE EARTH
The cost only for Greece is estimated
700 billion of Euros from avoiding the
adaptation in the climatic change up to
the year 2.100, according to the study of
Bank of Greece

13. Basic Questions Concerning the Desertification
DESERTIFICATION, A CHALLENGE (THREAT) FOR THE EARTH
Basic Questions Concerning the Desertification
i. Can the desertification be reversible?
ii. Can the reversibility of the desertification
happen after a human intervention but also with
natural ways without any human intervention?

14. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
DESERTIFICATION, A CHALLENGE (THREAT) FOR THE EARTH
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION