Deserts are unique ecosystems with their own biotic and abiotic
components, and are often rich in renewable natural resources, the
appropriate management of which can contribute significantly to the
sustainable management of desert regions for the welfare of the people.
Yet while there are many books on the flora of the countries fringing
the important desert countries of the Mediterranean and Red Seas, there
or few books reporting on their ecophysiology and vegetation ecology.
This book presents the vegetation types of the African and Asian
countries of the Mediterranean and Red Sea coastal regions, and
discusses the ecological threats and economic applications of these
critical resources. In particular, it examines the relationships between
climate and vegetation, and discusses these within the context of
desertification, agro-industrial applications, ecotourism and
sustainable development.
The book will provide a valuable reference for researchers and graduate
students involved in plant ecology, biogeography, economic botany and
environmental management in the Afro-Asian Mediterranean and Red Sea
coastal regions, as well as other desert regions around the world.