Forty-five per cent of the land in Cyprus is classified as being under desertification conditions, one of the highest proportions in the EU, according to a report by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC).
The report, entitled 'Towards a better characterisation of land degradation and desertification in the European Union', presents an updated methodology developed by the Joint Research Centre for mapping the areas of the EU affected by land degradation and desertification.
According to the report, Spain records the highest share of land under desertification conditions, at 53%, followed by Cyprus at 45% and Greece at 36%.
Cyprus also records the highest proportion of its population affected by desertification. According to the report, 61% of the population of Cyprus, approximately 0.7 million people, live in areas under desertification conditions. Greece follows at 47%, Spain at 43%, Romania at 39% and Bulgaria at 37%.
At EU level, the report states that drylands currently cover around 15% of the Union, equivalent to 611,000 square kilometres, an area approximately twice the size of Italy. Of this area, 530,000 square kilometres are affected by desertification, corresponding to around 12% of the EU’s territory and affecting approximately 42 million people.
(Source: CNA)
