İİT Üyesi Ülkelerde Çölleşme: Faktörler, Zorluklar ve İlerleme Yolu

Abstract

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) comprises of 57 member countries that are located in different parts of the world and many of them are situated in hyper-arid, arid and semi-arid areas. Based on secondary based research, this study highlights the factors that lead to desertification in OIC member countries and the challenges that need to overcome. The study found that the changing land use pattern and climate-related process were the direct causes of desertification in these countries. Decreased arable land, increased aridity and drought, population growth, urbanisation, encroachment on rangelands and forests, increased land degradation, and climate change are the key factors leading to desertification. Again, around 30% of OIC populations are living in Sub Saharan African countries, who still depend on subsistence agriculture. The old-fashioned forest management system also enhances the risk of losing forest resources. The study found that local phenomena especially unsustainable use of natural resources by local people and globalization phenomena in international food markets, neoliberalisation impact and thereby depletion of agriculture and forest resources, are laying significant role of deforestation and the resultant desertification in the affected OIC member countries. The study proposes that there is a need to establish a desertification monitoring and implementing center so that the OIC can take appropriate and coordinated actions in a timely manner. This center could help to raise awareness-building, regional campaign and management of natural resources in the issues of desertification across the OIC member countries.