Central Asia is a large and understudied region of varied geography ranging from the high
passes and mountains of Tian Shan to the vast deserts of Kyzyl Kum Taklamakan to the grassy
treeles steppes. This region is faced with adverse conditions as much of the land is too dry
or rugged for farming. Additionally the rich specific and intraspecific diversity of fruit
trees and medicinal plants is threatened by overgrazing oil and mineral extraction and
poaching. Countless species from the approximately 20 ecosystems and 6000 plant taxa are now
rare and endangered.Traditional vegetation studies in this region are far from adequate to
handle complex issues such as soil mass movement soil sodicity and salinity biodiversity
conservation and grazing management. However data analysis using a Geographical Information
System (GIS) tool provides new insights into the vegetation of this region and opens up new
opportunities for long-term sustainable management. While vegetation planning can occur at a
property scale it is often necessary for certain factors such as salinity to be dealt with
on a regional scale to ensure their effective management. GIS increases the effectiveness and
accuracy of vegetation planning in a region. Such regional planning will also greatly increases
biodiversity values. This book systematically explores these issues and discuses new
applications and approaches for overcoming these issues including the application of GIS
techniques for sustainable management and planning. Professional researchers as well as
students and teachers of agriculture and ecology will find this volume to be an integral
resource for studying the vegetation of Central Asia.
