Social-Ecological Systems Across the Asian Drylands Belt (ADB)

摘要: In this chapter, we provide an overview of the social-ecological systems (SES) in Asian Drylands Belt (ADB), a vast geographical region composed 17 independent countries and six administrative provinces China. The ADB, which covers 15.4 million km2 is home to more than 645 people, has served as major human migratory route across Eurasia, was earliest societal organizations around Fertile Crescent 9500 years ago, long provided base for trading connections between East West via Silk Road. ADB (also defined Greater Central Asia volume) retains its strategic importance, so historical contemporary reasons, SES are highly diverse space time. We summarize variable changes temperature precipitation over past decades identify divergent dynamics land cover ADB. Taking macrosystem approach, also examine interrelationships among indicators by comparing three sub-regions: (DEA), Core (CAC), Middle (ME). Five pressing issues facing future sustainability are: (1) worsened water scarcity; (2) intensified use changes; (3) climatic extremes change; (4) globalization cross-country effects; (5) unforeseeable institutional shifts. conclude proposing conceptual framework understanding modeling SES. It includes institutions essential foundation upon conventional pillars science: social system, economic ecological system.