The Man-Made Desert: Effects of Economic and Demographic Growth on the Ecosystems of Arid Southeastern Spain

The aridity of southeastern Spain is unique in Europe, particularly in the deserts of Almeria. According to environmental historians, shrublands are the natural vegetation for this province; however, forests were prominent up until the nineteenth century. This major shift in landscape was initiated...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental history 2001-01, Vol.6 (1), p.75-94
Main Authors: Lattore, Juan Garcia, Pico, Andres Anchez, Latorre, Jesus Garcia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural land
Demographic economics
Demography
Deserts
Ecological history
Forest ecosystems
Irrigation
Irrigation systems
Peasant class
Sustainable agriculture
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Summary:The aridity of southeastern Spain is unique in Europe, particularly in the deserts of Almeria. According to environmental historians, shrublands are the natural vegetation for this province; however, forests were prominent up until the nineteenth century. This major shift in landscape was initiated by human development activities, including agriculture, mining, and population growth. These activities resulted in logging, resource depletion, erosion, and desertification. This ecological history of the region addresses paleoecological data, wildlife histories, Christian and Muslim settlements, the peasant class, and the impacts of the industrial revolution.
ISSN:1084-5453
1930-8892
DOI:10.2307/3985232