Desertification in mountain geosystems: a case study of the Ishmantupsay basin in the Gobduntau mountain range, Uzbekistan

A high rate of population growth in Central Asia is increasing human impact on nature resulting in rapid desertification, not only in lowlands, but also in mountainous areas. Overstocking of rangelands with livestock is causing severe and ongoing degradation of vegetation. According to expert estimates, productivity in mountain pastures has decreased by 40 - 60% in the last 50 - 60 years. In low and average elevation mountains, trees and shrubs are almost completely removed. Due to deterioration of vegetation cover in mountains, soil erosion has developed strongly, gravitational processes and mudflows have become frequent and many springs have begun to dry up. The purpose of our research is to show the scale of influence of human activity on mountain nature and to study desertification and other negative processes which develop in mountain systems under the influence of anthropogenic factors using the Gobduntau mountain range in Uzbekistan as a case study.

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