Changes suffered by the Mediterranean rangelands in the recent past: ICARDA’s experience

Abstract

In the harsh agro-climatic environment of Central and West Asia and North Africa that the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) seeks to serve, rangelands are of considerable environmental, agricultural, and socioeconomic importance. These rangelands, which contribute to the living of the poorest population of the region, are, however, undergoing major changes. This is a concern reflected in ICARDA’s increased attention and resource allocation to research for natural resources management.