There is a great deal of disagreement about the causes and extent of desertification and about what part of its impact on human well-being is manageable, and how. A new synthetic paradigm for desertification must be developed, one that is based on the simultaneous roles of the meteorological and ecological dimensions of desertification (the biophysical factors) and the human dimensions of desertification (the socio-economic factors). This proposal will establish ARIDnet to provide the intellectual leadership for developing and testing this new paradigm. Planned activities: ARIDnet will (i) conduct workshops to debate the Dahlem Desertification Paradigm (DDP)a product of the 2001 Dahlem Conference on desertificationfor critical evaluation and refinement; (ii) formulate working groups to develop comparative case studies to test the DDP; (iii) conduct a quantitative synthesis of what matters in desertification, when and where it matters, and why; (iv) recruit new researchers and stakeholders into ARIDnet so a broad-based and useful approach to desertification problems can be developed; and (v) maintain a website to support networking activity. Anticipated impact: Arguments surrounding the topic of desertification create confusion in policy and management programs intended to help many of the worlds poorest people. Hence, there is an urgent need for new, interdisciplinary approaches for addressing this global problem. ARIDnet will provide the leadership to support on-going international discussions and strengthen recruitment of researchers, including undergraduate students, to study the principles, criteria, and policies related to global desertification, especially as outlined under the UN Convention to Combat Desertification.
