Drought and desertification in Moroccan Pre-Sahara, Draa valleys: exploring from the perspective of young people

Worldwide, the arid regions have been experiencing cyclical droughts and devastation due to land desertification. A multi-criteria approach was proposed to establish the relationship between these pressures and assess their impact on the socio-economical, physical, and biological resources. This method was applied at local scale in the palm grove of Draa valley in southeastern Morocco. This paper aims to assess the socio-ecological impacts of drought and desertification, to develop a set of impact indicators of each phenomenon, and explore the relationship between drought and desertification. A framework of analysis was developed based on data collected from a survey using samples of 580 questionnaires: 290 for desertification and 290 for drought. A Likert scale data analysis was applied and rating scales varies from Low, Middle, High, and Very High impact. The results depict that drought is considered a first-rate threat in this region. The findings indicated also a very strong link between drought and desertification. The area is currently suffering from drought followed by desertification and then inundation. Natural and human factors are in the origin of desertification. A set of variables and common variables of drought and desertification were proposed to understand their impacts on well-being.