CALEM

Center for Arid Lands Environmental Management

Background

• Arid lands cover about 40 percent of the globe and are home to nearly a fifth of the world's population.
• Arid lands cover about 40 percent of earth’s land surface,
• Home to 2 billion people – 90% in developing countries.
• Large and rapidly growing population – many in urban areas.
• 2 billion people live in arid regions, 90% in developing countries
• The population of arid lands is increasing rapidly – exceeded all other biomes in the 1990’s
• Many people live in poverty
• Many of the world’s poorest countries occur in areas classified as arid.
• Arid lands are the location of many rapidly growing cities:

• Major environmental issues in arid lands include:
  • Water resources for human and ecosystem needs
  • Climate change impacts
  • Invasive species
  • Geologic hazards - Floods, dust storms
  • Desertification and land degradation
  • Effects of urbanization

Contact

Dr. Nick Lancaster (faculty web page)
775.673.7304
Nick.Lancaster@dri.edu