ИСТИНА

The desertification assessment and mapping (1:1.5 mln.) of the southern (semi-arid) belt of the Russian Federation has been taken out using the comprehensive methodology based on the UNCCD approaches and space imagery processing. The map shows the areas of the main chains of causes and impacts and the rate of desertification trends and risks. One of the distinctive peculiarities of the assessment is demonstration not only of degradation but both land improvement (progradation) trends. It has been shown that about 1 220 000 sq. km in the Russian Federation or 7.2% of its area are prone to desertification or desertification risk. A set of indicators and diagnostic keys has been elaborated for the purpose of desertification assessment at the regional and local levels. For economic purposes a geographical zoning of desertification has been developed, which includes 15 desertification provinces subdivided into 58 districts differ in combinations of desertification risks, trends and rates, and in regional peculiarities of land use