United Nations Conference on desertification : orientation workshop 12-16 September 1977

We take urbanization and industrialization in relation to deserti-fication to have both the meanings expressed in the newly adopted Plan of Action, namely that (1) urbanization and industrialization, world¬wide, can either intensify or prevent desertification and have an "impact” on decertifying lands distantly removed from the centers of urbanization and industrialization* This worldwide interdependence, especially of an economic/energy nature, is relevant, but we did not consider our group capable of handling such a complex topic in time available, but refer to the recent work of Solomon and Owen on economic interdependence in national policy as providing a model Suffice it to say that desertification particularly its man-induced aspects is very closely related to the processes of production, distribution and consumption of goods and services through economic linkages (2) The second meaning the development or location in arid areas of industry, mining, and cities in relation to desertification is therefore the one on which we concentrate.