Analysis of anthropogenic and natural interrelations: their impact on sanding up and desertification in southeastern Morocco (Draa and Ziz valleys)

摘要

This paper presents an analysis of natural and anthropogenic factors responsible for increasing sanding up and desertification phenomena in southeastern Morocco. The results revealed that the environment has changed in this region over the last fewdecades via the influence and interaction of different natural and anthropogenic factors. In this very fragile environment, human pressure, altering climatic conditions and the use of inappropriate technology have prompted a long and insidious process leading to the appearance of desert biotopes, even in previously non-desert areas. Increasing populations and socioeconomic changes are responsible for overuse of this environment. A new relationship between humans and the environment has developed throughthe introduction of modern lifestyles in oasis areas, accompanied by increased road systems, irrigation canals, motorization, dams, etc. With this modernization, traditional techniques are becoming obsolete and out of line with development policies. This has led to a generally unbalanced situation. The main environmental changes that have occurred, such as sanding up and desertification, are therefore more due to human pressure and accompanying technological modifications, along with resource mismanagement, than to unfavourable climatic conditions. Human activities are therefore chiefly responsible for the environmental imbalance that has occurred in southeastern Morocco in recent decades.