National Atlas of areas at risk of desertification — Response Index: agri-environment measures on arable land

The Ministry of the Environment and the Protection of the Territory financed by act of 28-12-2001 the Experimental Institute for the Study and Defense of the Soil of Florence for the ‘Predisposition of National Atlas of areas at risk of desertification’ at the recognition scale (reference scales 1:100,000-1.250,000). The MATTM considers this Atlas as a preparatory instrument for the correct implementation of the National Plan for Combating Siccity and Desertification, adopted by the Italian State in implementation of the United Nations Convention on Combating Siccity and Desertification. The above-mentioned act provides for the participation of the National Institute of Agricultural Economics in its specific areas of competence. The study area includes Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Lazio, Marche, Molise Puglia, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany, Umbria. From the analysis of the measures contained in Regulation (EEC) No 2078, those containing actions most related to the mitigation of soil degradation processes have been selected to define the response index for agri-environmental measures (IRMA). In particular, the following measures were analysed: Measure A1 — introduction and maintenance of organic farming methods; Measure B1 — Extensive grazing systems (significant data are available for Sardinia only); Measure E1 — Care of abandoned agricultural land; Measure F1 — set-aside. These measures were related to the area under arable land.