The socioeconomic aspect of desertification in the Southern region of the Wilaya of M’sila, Algéria

Abstract

The degradation of the socioeconomic factors is one f the effects of desertification. It manifests in the destruction of the production bases, the decline of the social system, and the decrease of the population. Like the other Algerian Steppic Wilayas, Msila faces an alarming desertification that leads to the degradation of the natural resources and the modification of the land use. The South of Msila (the study region is part of it) became a land for the vegetal production relying on the deep groundwater. However, the unsuitable development methods changed the region and contributed to the desertification and the secondary salination issues. In this context, due to the lack of the researches in this field, it is necessary to evaluate the socioeconomic aspects of the desertification effects. The analysis includes measuring the effects of degradation on the life conditions. To do so, a deep documentary research was conducted on the study region based on the literature review. The study includes a series of surveys on 259 informants in 04 sites. Findings show a bad situation due to the decrease of the agricultural outcomes.