Objectif To consolidate fundamental areas of research, in field investigations and modelling that are necessary for quantifying and understanding desertification processes at selected sites across southern Europe.A programme of field measurements and process investigations will be carried out at field stations in Almeria (Spain), Spata (Greece) and Sardinia (Italy), to establish long term trends in desertification, investigate key processes of desertification and soil erosion and contribute towards establishing a European and International data and information base. In Spain additional measurements will be made i) to assess the response of the vegetation, runoff and sediment yield to climate variability; ii) to model the influence of the spatial dynamics of patchy vegetation on runoff and sediment and iii) maintain and update the Rambla Honda field site at the patch and hillslope scale. In Sardinia data on climate, surface runoff, sediment yield, vegetation and soil moisture in experimental plots with different land use conditions will be measured. In Greece data will be collected to establish relations between soil erosion and loss in plant productivity of rain-fed cereals and to quantifying the effect of land abandonment. In Spain, specific studies are being undertaken of: the adaption of natural vegetation under stress and environmental change; of soil faunal activity; soil moisture vegetation relations under stress; the influence of plant roots on infiltration; and the management of stony soils. In Sardinia, land degradation description indicators and grazing impacts are being studied. Modelling activities, associated with the MEDRUSH land degradation model and its application in the target areas are being developed, expanded and consolidated. This covers ecological, land degradation and large basin and landslide modelling. For the ecological modelling a tree model, a model which allows competition between life forms, a generic fire model and a grazing model for inclusion in the vegetation model will be developed. The land degradation modelling will cover the validation of the MEDRUSH model for the Agri and other target areas; the development of a grazing component, the integration of socio-economic models with MEDRUSH and the development of sub-MEDRUSH model for areas of 100 km2. The large basin modelling consist of an implementation of MEDRUSH in the Agri and Guadalentin basins and the identification and use of a database to validate the SHETRAN landslide component. The MEDRUSH model, produced during Medalus II is being developed and applied as a management tool in the target areas of the Guadalentin (Spain), Agri (Italy) and Gerje (Hungary) rivers. The Agri modelling involves scaling and spatial variability analyses of water transport processes, model sensitivity analysis and relevant parameter definition; model validation and testing; comparison of model results from other target areas and evaluation of model performance and output reliability. In the Judean desert (Israel) and in Canada, international partners are undertaking research, that is integrated into the Medalus programme, under conditions that are more extreme than in Europe. Champ scientifique natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdatabasesnatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencessoil sciencesland-based treatmentsocial scienceseconomics and businesseconomicsproduction economicsproductivitynatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changesagricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagriculturegrains and oilseedscereals Programme(s) FP4-ENV 2C - Specific programme of research and technological development in the field of environment and climate, 1994-1998 Thème(s) 01010403 - Land resources and the threat of desertification and soil erosion in Europe Appel à propositions Data not available Régime de financement CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinateur Universiteit van Amsterdam Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse 130,Nieuwe Prinsengracht 1018 VZ Amsterdam Pays-Bas Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée Participants (11) Trier par ordre alphabétique Trier par contribution de l’UE Tout développer Tout réduire Bar-Ilan University Israël Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse 52900 Ramat Gan Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée Cranfield University Royaume-Uni Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Silsoe Campus Wharley End MK45 4DT Cranfield Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée INSTITUTE OF GEOGRAPHICAL RESEARCH - HUNGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES Hongrie Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse 62,Budaorsi ut 45 1112 BUDAPEST Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS Royaume-Uni Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Clarendon Way LS2 9JT LEEDS Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE Royaume-Uni Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Cassie Building, Claremont Road NE1 7RU NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée UNIVERSITY OF SHEFFIELD Royaume-Uni Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Western Bank S10 2TN SHEFFIELD Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée University of Liverpool Royaume-Uni Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Crown Street L69 3BX Li Liverpool Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée University of Toronto Canada Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse 1265,Military Trial 1265 M1C 1A4 Scarborough Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée Università degli Studi di Cagliari Italie Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Via Trentino 51 09100 Cagliari Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II Italie Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Via Università 100 80055 Portici Napoli Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée Università degli Studi di Sassari Italie Contribution de l’UE Aucune donnée Adresse Via Enrico de Nicola 07100 Sassari Voir sur la carte Coût total Aucune donnée