Dry World Research Paper

The “Dry World” refers to the North African and Southwest Asian region. This name does not illustrate the region's diverse climate and landscape. Across North Africa and into eastern Iran lies a vast desert land. Whereas in the Atlas Mountains, Algeria, the lowlands of Morocco, and Tunisia the Mediterranean climate allows for a lot of flora . Needless to say, Southwest Asia and North Africa are more than desert—the humid and elevated areas provide a lot of biodiversity. One would think that these elevated areas are densely forested. That is not the case. As a result of human settlement the landscape has deteriorated. Although the deforestation is not as severe as in some parts of the Greater Antilles it is still problematic. Other examples

The richer nations of the region—Saudi Arabia and Israel—have more resources available to plan and adjust to climate change; whereas poorer countries—such as Syria, Yemen and Sudan—have no such resources. All nations in the region have become aware of the possible effects of climate change. Knowing that many nations have made ongoing efforts to reverse the effects of human modification. Reforestation efforts are being made by Israel and Syria, meanwhile in Lebanon a reserve by the name of Shouf Biosphere Reserve aims to protect endangered mammals and rare cedar trees. The deforestation in the humid and elevated lands became severe enough so that it resulted in a “long, slow deterioration of the region’s water supplies and in accelerated soil erosion (Rowntree 220).” Deforestation’s sole benefit to the region is the land that is gained for possible development of buildings and (early on) the use of wood for power. At this point in time, it only has negative effects because it damages the water supply and takes away from biodiversity in the area. What’s more, the dwindling water could become extremely problematic because water is used as a transportation resource. Overgrazing goes hand in hand with deforestation. It results when farm animals such as cattle or sheep continuously eat shrubs and the like in the area. Because overgrazing leads to deforestation it has the same negative