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This chapter sets out to present a short review of (i) the general context of land degradation under the framework of UNCCD – the international convention on desertification with a specific focus on Land Degradation Neutrality, and (ii) examples of the main processes responsible for soil degradation (e.g. surface crusting, runoff and water erosion, tillage erosion, wind erosion, and salinization), along with the principles of desertification control and land rehabilitation, in light of the socioeconomic context and ecological conditions and processes. It also focuses on two other key considerations for land restoration: the conservation/ increase of soil carbon stocks (see Tunisian example), and the biological restoration of functioning soil through the management of mycorrhizal fungi. Although there is plentiful scientific evidence for strategies to prevent land degradation and/or restore degraded land, new knowledge is needed to step up the fight against land degradation and allow Mediterranean ecosystems to deliver appropriate sustainable services. This chapter cites examples of these scientific gaps (e.g. sensitivity of soil organic matter to temperature increases, the dynamics of inorganic carbon and deep soil organic, and the most effective Plant-AM in ensuring the success of restoration programmes) The Mediterranean region under climate change : a scientific update. This book, coordinated by AllEnvi,(rench National Alliance for Environmental Researh) is published on the occasion of the 22nd Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP22, Marrakech, 2016)
