An approach for combating desertification in range lands of the north western Mediterranean coastal zone of Egypt

Abstract EN

The paper deals with an approach for combating desertification in the North Western Mediterranean Coast of Egypt.

In the concerned project (1987-1993), geomorphologic ally promising sites within the depleted range lands in the extension west of Mersa Matruh were selected and developed for harvesting runoff water.

Cisterns were dug to use their water for both production and supplemental irrigation of Acacia saligna and A triplex nummular seedlings, which were transplanted in the improved sites.

After 4 years from the development of these sites and their protection against grazing, the included preliminary evaluation was carried out for 3 sites within Hamada solaria community type and 2 within Thymelaea hirsute community type.

Applied measurements included plant cover, floristic composition, and number of individuals of each species and phytomass productivity. Improvement in the applied measurements was remarkable in all sites.

In sites dominated by Hamada scoparia, plant cover ranged between 50% and 90% in the improved sites compared to 20% and 30% in the unimproved sites.

The total number of individuals of all species ranged between 62-1909 inside the improved sites whereas it ranged between 107 and 150 out of the improved sites.

Fresh tender photomaps reached 3421g / 16m2 inside the improved sites compared to 1799 g/16m2 out of the improved sites.

In sites dominated by Thymelaea hirsuta, plant cover ranged between 15-30 % inside the improved sites compared to 5% and 15% outside.

It is apparent that much better results were attained under conditions of Hamada scoparia community type.

This may be attributed to the palatability of Thymelaea hirsute and its associate Gymnocarpos decandrum and their suffering from heavy grazing.