Page 203 - Çevre Şehir ve İklim Dergisi İngilizce - Özel Sayı

Bilgi Sarihan - Ramazan Acar Çakır
Aydın Uzun

3. Nature-Based and Climate-Resilient Solutions in Combating
Issues in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas

3.1. Development of Vegetation Cover in the Area

Vegetation covers play a crucial role in protecting the soil surface and
maintaining the health of the soil ecosystem (Dabney, 2001). Plants, which have
extremely important ecological and economic benefits, not only improve water,
air, and soil quality but also possess the ability to provide feed and food. In
addition, they serve as carbon sinks in the fight against greenhouse gas emissions.
Preserving and enhancing the quality of fertile soil where it exists is one of the
most important actions that can be taken against the main problems in arid and
semi-arid areas. One of the greatest threats that accelerate the transformation of
dry soils lacking vegetation into degraded lands is known to be wind erosion. In
areas experiencing drought, wind erosion, which is one of the most dangerous
events accelerating desertification, can be mitigated through practices such as
surface roughening, soil aggregation, the use of wind barriers, and the creation
and maintenance of vegetation (Woodruff, 1972).
The development and maintenance of vegetation has become an
important method for controlling wind erosion, and among the best practices
for combating wind erosion in soils of arid regions is the coverage of the land
with vegetation (Sporhic, 1998).
Typically, the best places for plant growth are humid and high-rainfall areas
or irrigated lands. However, plants are also used in arid areas to control erosion.
In arid areas, one of the most important services provided by vegetation is
covering the soil surface and mitigating the effects of wind erosion (Bilbro,
1991). It has been determined that in areas where the plant cover ratio falls
below 15%, wind erosion significantly increases (Uluocak, 1979). Vegetation is
classified under non-erodible materials, and it has been found that covering
20% of the soil with non-erodible materials reduces soil loss by 57%, while
covering 50% of the soil reduces soil loss by up to 95% (Fryrear, 1985).
In arid and semi-arid areas, soil conservation and the establishment of
vegetation cannot be achieved with every type of plant. Starting planting activities
with the selection of species that have previously been successful in adaptation
and identification studies will undoubtedly increase success in the local area.

3.2. Application of Plant Selection Criteria

Especially in arid areas, due to their location under effective continental
climate conditions, they face moisture deficiency throughout the vegetation

190 Journal of Environment, Urban and Climate