The Preliminary Study of Anthropogenic and Natural Drivers of Desertification in Drylands of South Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the perceptions of farmers residing in the drylands of south Punjab regarding
the drivers of desertification mainly associated with meteorological and anthropogenic factors. Dataset of 399
respondents was collected using disproportionate stratified sampling technique from Bahawalpur, Rahim Yar Khan and
Rajanpur districts. Pearson correlation and cross tabulation were performed to explore relation between variables.
Simple Linear Regression (SLR) helped in investigating the association between natural and anthropogenic causes of
desertification. The findings of this study indicate the significant variability in natural causes of desertification such as
increasing temperature extremes, soil salinization and variation in rainfall patterns, while extensive land degradation,
caused by anthropogenic factor, as leading to desertification in the study area. For Rajanpur, mean rainfall variation,
supports the perception regarding major natural driver of desertification. Small-scale farmers were found to be most
vulnerable to climatic extremes. SLR concluded that anthropogenic factors trigger or intensify the natural drivers of
desertification in the study area. Useful insights are provided regarding the perceptions of the local farming community
regarding causes of desertification as appropriate perception of a risk leads to fruitful adaptation measures.

Key words: Perceptions, climate extremes, desertification, drylands, land degradation.