This series, planned in fourteen volumes, provides scientific knowledge on natural resources in developing countries for their rational and sustainable development. Explaining theory and techniques of resource management, it identifies the key issues and responses of renewable as well as non-renewable resources. The major themes covered in the series include relationship between population, resources and development; ecological degradation of land; land appraisal and development, soil deterioration and conservation; water supply and quality, water management, groundwater assessment, bio resource depletion and conservation; environmental hazards; scenic resources and tourism, energy resources; degrading atmospheric resources; and integrated watershed development. Its first three volumes are already brought out and some more are in the pipeline. This volume, containing twenty-two papers, outlines the important aspects of ecological degradation of land in developing countries. Identifying the physical, chemical and biological factors leading to land degradation, it addresses a host of issues concerning wasteland, desertification and land resource depletion. It also presents a critical analysis of manland relationship. The impact of new technologies, increasing urbanisation and changing utilization of resource base on land degradation and depletion has been analysed as well.
