AECID - Agencia Española de Cooperación Internacional para el Desarrollo

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The whole Mediterranean basin is facing a serious problem, mainly the significant decrease in the area of fertile land, caused by continuous processes of soil degradation and reduction that have affected the region for many years.

The Mediterranean climate is characterized by hot and dry summers, and by an irregular and unpredictable rainfall pattern. The Mediterranean relief ranges from steep slopes to great deserts, which together with the effects of human action and of other factors such as droughts, fires and strong winds, make soil a very endangered resource, which is exposed to significant risk of erosion. Indeed, 78% of the soil in the area is considered fragile. This fragility is highlighted by the levels of sediment accumulating in reservoirs, the annual equivalent of up to 3% of their volume in some countries. This fragility is shown in the level reached by the sediment deposits accumulated in reservoirs, which can reach up to 3% of its volume per year in some countries.

The causes of land degradation are widespread and often a combination of natural and human factors. The degradation of the physical, chemical, biological and economic properties of the land is mainly due to bad agricultural and farming practices, deterioration and decrease or forest areas, inability to adapt and the insecurity of land owning systems in some Mediterranean countries, and desertification or extension of urban areas.

To prevent these processes, emphasis must be placed on encouraging the population to remain in the country, on improving traditional farming systems, on diversifying economic activities in rural environments, on adapting activities to each area’s capacity, on avoiding overgrazing, on fighting against forest fires, on promoting the regeneration of existing woodlands and on reforestation measures, among other aspects.

The Azahar Programme fosters activities to address the following goals:

• Prevention of soil degradation and its regeneration where the deterioration of physical, chemical, biological or economic properties has occurred.
• Recovery of the vegetal cover and control of surface run-off and river flooding by means of hydrological and woodland restoration projects.
• Prevention and/or reduction of permanent loss of natural vegetation, and recuperation of deteriorated or desert land.
• Reduction of the vulnerability of natural systems to drought.
• Promotion of the use of alternative sources of energy –preferably renewable– in order to reduce the use of firewood as fuel.