National Atlas of areas at risk of desertification — Impact Index: potential drought

The Ministry of the Environment and the Protection of the Territory financed by act of 28-12-2001 the Experimental Institute for the Study and Defense of the Soil of Florence for the “Predisposition of National Atlas of areas at risk of desertification” at the scale of recognition (reference scales 1:100,000-1.250.000). The MATTM considers this Atlas as a preparatory instrument for the correct implementation of the National Plan for Combating Siccity and Desertification, adopted by the Italian State in implementation of the United Nations Convention on Combating Siccity and Desertification. The above-mentioned act provides for the participation of the National Institute of Agricultural Economics in its specific areas of competence. The study area includes Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Lazio, Marche, Molise Puglia, Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany, Umbria. The potential drought stems directly from the indicator ‘number of dry days’. Soils subjected to more than 90 days dry experience clear pedoclimatic stress. The analysis established a threshold for the potential drought of 105 days of dry soil.