Desertification in karst is an effect of climate change and not sustainable anthropogenic activities, the combination of which, however, causes the gradual loss of karst natural resources, such as soil, vegetation, and groundwater. A considerable percentage of global karst areas is found in drylands, characterized by negative water balance and scarce presence of soils. High fragility of the karst environment, and its vulnerability to land degradation and pollution because of the peculiar anisotropic setting, environmental dynamics, and of the direct connection between the surface and the subsurface, are at the origin of the severe problems deriving from desertification processes in karst. In addition to natural drivers, such as geology and topography, karst desertification is generally due to four main factors, mostly or partly related to human activity: deforestation, improper land use, groundwater overexploitation, and climate changes. Through the analysis of a collection of studies conducted in several karst territories around the world, the present paper aims to provide an overview of the processes leading to desertification risks in karst areas. Emphasizing the need to preserve these fragile environments, characterized by peculiar features and precious freshwater resources, this review summarizes the main situations at the global scale of rocky desertification in karst, at the same time providing indications for developing innovative and multi-disciplinary approaches addressed toward mitigation of the risk related to desertification in karst.

中文翻译：

---

喀斯特地区荒漠化：综述


喀斯特荒漠化是气候变化和不可持续的人类活动的影响，然而，两者的结合导致喀斯特自然资源，如土壤、植被和地下水逐渐丧失。全球喀斯特地区有相当一部分位于旱地，其特点是水负平衡和土壤稀缺。喀斯特环境高度脆弱，由于其独特的各向异性环境、环境动态以及地表和地下之间的直接联系而容易遭受土地退化和污染，是喀斯特荒漠化过程产生的严重问题的根源。喀斯特。除了地质和地形等自然驱动因素外，喀斯特荒漠化通常由四个主要因素造成，大部分或部分与人类活动有关：森林砍伐、土地​​利用不当、地下水过度开采和气候变化。通过对世界各地喀斯特地区进行的一系列研究的分析，本文旨在概述导致喀斯特地区荒漠化风险的过程。本综述强调保护这些具有独特特征和宝贵淡水资源的脆弱环境的必要性，总结了全球范围内喀斯特石漠化的主要情况，同时为开发创新和多学科方法解决喀斯特石漠化问题提供了指导。减轻与喀斯特荒漠化相关的风险。