Soil and Water Conservation for Desertification Control in Iran

An overview of both past and on-going efforts to arrest and reverse land degradation in Iran. Iran has areas vulnerable to desertification due to extensive areas of drylands and increasing population pressure on land and water resources. Over-grazing of rangelands is a particular problem. Initially desertification was combated mainly at the local level and involved dune stabilization measures, especially the use of oil mulch, re-vegetation and windbreaks. Several projects are summarized that illustrate the variety of the problems faced in this country that has a large arid zone.