Fragmentation in Semi-Arid and Arid Landscapes

Casual readers of the title of this book might be forgiven for thinking that it is a little esoteric, far-removed from the pressing day-to-day concerns of humans and wildlife in the drylands of the world. But they could not be more wrong. It addresses an issue of the utmost practical importance in the world today, yet does so on the basis of exciting new theory about how the world operates. Of the billion or so human beings who now live in the world’s arid and semi-arid lands, a majority depend on natural resources for their livelihoods. These natural resources include livestock and their forage, as well as the wild biota that creates opportunities for tourism or subsistence harvesting. Arid and semi-arid lands are spread over a third of the world’s land surface, from Colorado to the Kalahari, the Sahel to the Simpson, the Altai Steppe to Amboseli. Notwithstanding their diversity, these lands are broadly cha- cterised by low productivity, management at large scales, and great climate variability – in short, by high spatial and temporal heterogeneity. This book is about the implications of that high spatial and temporal heterogeneity for life, management and policy in arid and semi-arid lands.

Exploring the concept of fragmentation, the ecological processes interrupted by fragmentation, and the social consequences of fragmented landscapes, this book presents a timely synthesis on the effects of fragmentation on arid and semi-arid pastoral systems throughout the world.

The global significance of the world’s rangelands is large, with these arid and semi-arid systems making up almost 25% of the earth’s landscapes – and supporting the livelihoods of more than 20 million people. These ecosystems are also home to several of the planet’s remaining megafauna, as well as other important species. Yet fragmentation across these rangelands has significantly impaired the ability of both people and animals to compensate for temporal heterogeneity in vegetation and water by exploiting its spatial heterogeneity, resulting in limited resource availability.

The case is developed that while fragmentation arises from different natural, social and economic conditions worldwide it creates similar outcomes for human and natural systems. With information from nine sites around the world the authors examine how fragmentation occurs, the patterns that result, and the consequences of fragmentation for ecosystems and the people who depend on them. The book will provide a valuable reference for students and researchers in rangeland ecology, park and natural resource management, environmental and ecological anthropology, economics and agriculture.