The evolution of soil conservation policies targeting land abandonment and soil erosion in Spain: A review

Cynthia C.E. van Leeuwen, Erik L.H. Cammeraat, Joris de Vente and Carolina Boix-Fayos

Land Use Policy, 2019, vol. 83, issue C, 174-186

Abstract: Land degradation affects natural and cultivated socio-ecosystems worldwide. Soil erosion is one of the main processes leading to land degradation, and the process is accelerated by human actions. Spain is dealing with extensive land degradation caused by land use and land cover change (LULCC), for instance by land abandonment, and local geo-ecological conditions. Recent land abandonment in Spain can be largely related to changing policies and international market development, which have resulted in the reallocation of agriculture and a shift from traditional rainfed crops to intensification of irrigated agriculture. This radical change in LULCC by land abandonment resulted in two opposite trends, towards greening-up and towards land degradation, each with enormous consequences for the environment by its effects on soil hydrology, runoff, sediment sources, soil erosion, fluvial channel adjustments and forest fire risks. To mitigate negative effects, appropriate management and conservation strategies are necessary.

Keywords: Land degradation; Policy making; Subsidies; CAP; Murcia; Land use change (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (20)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:83:y:2019:i:c:p:174-186

DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.01.018

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