Drought and desertification in Moroccan Pre-Sahara, Draa valleys: exploring from the perspective of young people

Abstract

Background: Worldwide, the arid regions have been experiencing cyclical droughts and devastation due to land desertification. A multi-criteria approach was proposed to establish the relationship between these pressures and assess their impact on the socio-economical, physical, and biological resources. This method was applied at local scale in the palm grove of Draa valley in southeastern Morocco. This paper aims to assess the socio-ecological impacts of drought and desertification, to develop a set of impact indicators of each phenomenon, and explore the relationship between drought and desertification. A framework of analysis was developed based on data collected from a survey using samples of 580 questionnaires: 290 for desertification and 290 for drought. A Likert scale data analysis was applied and rating scales varies from Low, Middle, High, and Very High impact. Results: The results depict that drought is considered a first-rate threat in this region. The findings indicated also a very strong link between drought and desertification. The area is currently suffering from drought followed by desertification and then inundation. Natural and human factors are in the origin of desertification. Conclusions: A set of variables and common variables of drought and desertification were proposed to understand their impacts on well-being.

The socio-ecological system of the pre-Sahara zone of Morocco: a conceptual framework to analyse the impact of drought and desertification

“…This productive sector is placed at the center of the socioecological system of the Middle Draa Valley and is threatened by advanced desertification. In fact, the study area suffers from drought followed by desertification as major threats (Karmaoui, 2019). As the most productive sector is affected, other associated sectors are as well as influenced, namely, the economic, social, environmental, cultural, food security, and trade, etc.…”

“…Desertification in pre-Sahara of Morocco Desertification is the second greatest challenge after drought in the study area (Karmaoui, 2019). According to Wang et al, (2009), three climatic factors of desertification were used, namely temperature, rainfall, and wind speed.…”

“…where; V x : impact points of a given variable; w: total score; n 1 : number of responses for low impact; n 2 : number of responses for middle impact; n 3 : number of responses for high impact; n 4 : number of responses for very high impact; N: Total number of the responses. This study is part of the project studying the phenomena affecting socio-ecological systems in the oases of Morocco (Karmaoui, 2019). In this study, we attempt to design a conceptual model around the two phenomena, which includes the main variables and the extent of their impact on different aspects of the socioecological systems of the region.…”

“…In fact, drought causes agricultural productivity decline (Campbell et al, 2016), desertification (Karmaoui, 2019), and food security (Twongyirwe et al, 2019). The large special-temporal impact of drought increases the losses (Vicente-Serrano & Lo ´pez-Moreno, 2005) and social problems such as unemployment, poverty, and migration.…”

“…This current study is a continuation of the first part of a research project conducted by Karmaoui, (2019), that analyzed 17 variables for the two phenomena, namely groundwater and surface water scarcity, water and soil salinity, overgrazing, deforestation, Bayoud disease, transhumant, population growth, migration, schooling, health service, school service, drinking water service, electricity service, production of organic fertilizers, and seasonal migration.…”