Description

We are now in the "Age of Environmental Enlightenment" and global warming is seen as a major threat to the well-being of the world's communities. Today many researchers speculate that with global warming of the atmosphere there will be an increase in drought-related crop failures in areas already subject to drought. They contend that dry areas will get drier and wet areas wetter. Yet observations show that people are moving into regions that are relatively less fruitful with respect to agriculture productivity than the lands from which they emigrated. This book challenges the view that future droughts will be caused by climate change as opposed to human activities and demographic change. The author predicts future problems in these fragile environments, whether or not global climate changes occur. This book will intrigue researchers in environmental biology, environmental sciences, popular science, and agriculture, as well as policy makers and students.