Country Natural factors Anthropogenic factors Dominated by Source
China (Eastern Asia)
Dry climate condition
Non-suitable human activities (e.g. agricultural reclamation, grazing)
non-sustainable anthropogenic activities
(Zhang and Huisingh, 2018)
Dry climate Socioeconomic forces (Rural Population, Net income, farmlands and arable lands, livestock grazing, deforestation and agricultural activities are barred, afforestation and vegetation re-enhanced) Socioeconomic forces (Feng et al., 2015)
Mongolia (Eastern Asia)
Dry climate
animal husbandry, grazing, crop cultivation, deforestation, mining and inadequate waste management
n/a
(Batjargal, 1997)
Myanmar (ASEAN)
Dryness and hot weather conditions
over-grazing, unsuitable crop management practices
n/a
(Tun, 2000, Tun et al., 2015)
Vietnam (ASEAN)
Long dry seasons and short-duration intensive rainfall in the rainy season
Agricultural and forestry production
n/a
(Anh et al., 2006)
Oman (Western Asia) Increased Temperature and decreased rainfall n/a n/a (Alvi, 1995)
Bahrain (Western Asia)
Low rainfall and high temperature
inappropriate land and water use and vegetation reduction
n/a
(Elagib and Abdu, 1997) (Alvi, 1995)
Kuwait (Western Asia)
Climatological processes (low rainfall, intensive rainfall, strong winds during dry season) and geological processes.
Over-grazing, vehicles, camping and over-exploitation of sediment
human population
(Al-Awadhi et al., 2003)
Turkey (Western Asia)
Dry climate
Vegetation reduction, grazing, agriculture, unsuitable irrigation techniques, soil salinization, and uncontrolled wild type plants picking
Inappropriate farming, grazing activities, and de-vegetation
(Haktanir et al., 2004) (Camci Çetin et al., 2007)
Syria (Western Asia)
Drought
Misuse of natural resources
n/a
(Haktanir et al., 2004)
Lebanon (Western Asia)
Drought
Deforestation, over-grazing, urbanization, construction of infrastructures (e.g. roads), poor agricultural and cultivation approaches, disproportionate use of chemicals, and economic development
n/a
(Haktanir et al., 2004)
Iraq (Western Asia)
Dry climate, north-westerly winds
Population growth, decreased forest cover, pastures, and land productivity, Urban expansion
n/a
(Al-Saidi and Al-Juaiali, 2013)
Cyprus (Western Asia)
Summer droughts, steep slopes
Land use changes, abandonment of marginal land, forest fires
n/a
(ClimateChangePost, 2018)
Abu Dhabi Emirate, United Arab Emirates (Western Asia)
Drought, wind erosion, Nebkha Dunes, water erosion
Water logging, vegetation reduction, compaction, land filling and mining
Wind erosion
(Abdelfattah, 2009)
Iran (Western Asia)
Dry climate, erosion (by water and wind)
population pressure, misuse of freshwater resources , over-grazing
n/a
(Amiraslani and Dragovich, 2011, Gu et al., 2015)
Sri Lanka (Southern Asia)
periodic droughts
Cultivation, deterioration of forest
Chena cultivation, deterioration of forest
(Tennakoon, 1980)
Afghanistan (Southern Asia)
Drought, topography, Geology
steep slope farming, de-vegetation and unsustainable use of scrub and grasslands
n/a
(Saba, 2001, NEPA, 2008)
Bangladesh (Southern Asia)
Drought, change in coastal morphology, river bank erosion, sedimentation on agricultural land, salinity, land fragmentation
Shifting cultivation, faulty cultivation practice, use of pesticides, mining in agricultural land, irrigation, overexploitation of biomass
n/a
(Department of Environment Bangladesh, 2005)
Nepal (Southern Asia)
n/a
cultivation of marginal lands, livestock grazing and biomass cover loss
n/a
(Paudel et al., 2009)
Pakistan (Southern Asia)
Drought, soil erosion (water erosion and wind erosion)
Deforestation, overgrazing, waterlogging and salinity, unsuitable management practices, urbanization and industrialization
Unsuitable land management practices
(Anjum et al., 2010) (Hussain and Irfan, 2012)
Armenia (Russia and surrounding countries)
Droughts, hot winds, landslides, submergence, floods, natural salinization
Urban development activity, Inadequate use of agricultural equipment, Deforestation, mining, soil contamination and disruption of biodiversity
n/a
(MNP, 2002)
Georgia (Russia and surrounding countries)
Droughts, wind erosion
Cultivation, grazing, deforestation and irrigation
n/a
(Davitashvili et al., 2009)
Serbia (Central and Eastern Europe)
Droughts
Forest fires, increased surface exploitation of non-metals, raw materials extraction and increased demands for natural resources below the land surface, the establishment of industrial waste tips
n/a
(Gajić and Đeković, 2005)
Hungary (Eastern Europe)
Droughts
n/a
n/a
(Kertész, 2016)