Some 45% of Cyprus’s land is under desertification conditions, one of the highest rates in the EU, according to a report by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) published on Monday. Cyprus also records the highest share of population affected by desertification anywhere in the bloc, with 61% of its population, around 0.7 million people, living in areas under desertification conditions.
The report, titled “Towards a better characterisation of land degradation and desertification in the European Union,” presents an updated JRC methodology for mapping the EU areas affected by land degradation and desertification.
Spain has the highest share of land under desertification conditions at 53%, followed by Cyprus at 45% and Greece at 36%. On population affected, Cyprus is followed by Greece (47%), Spain (43%), Romania (39%) and Bulgaria (37%).
According to the report, land degradation refers to the long-term reduction in the quality and productivity of land resources, driven by factors including human activity and natural causes. Desertification is defined specifically as land degradation in dry areas, while land degradation itself can occur anywhere and isn’t limited to dry regions. The methodology applied is based on the framework of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, adapted to EU data.
At EU level, dry areas currently cover about 15% of the bloc’s territory, or 611,000 square kilometres, an area roughly twice the size of Italy. Of that, 530,000 square kilometres are affected by desertification, equivalent to about 12% of EU territory and affecting around 42 million people.
The report also finds that a further 1,004,608 square kilometres across the EU are classified as at increased risk of desertification, based on future scenarios for the aridity index covering 2021-2040, with many of these areas lying outside zones currently considered dry.
Climate change projections for the EU show the risk of desertification rising, the report says, as some areas face reduced rainfall, more frequent droughts and higher temperatures. To assess future risk, the methodology draws on a database of future projections for the global aridity index and potential evapotranspiration.
The report notes that the JRC is developing, through the EU Soil Observatory, a dedicated desertification data dashboard that will provide access to updated statistics and maps on land degradation and desertification across the EU, along with their impact on the population.
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