This practical and bold book unifies multiple aspects of plant conservation into a single coherent concept, linking theory and methodology.

The main subject of this book is the interaction between diggings created by porcupines when consuming geophytes, and their influences on annual and perennial vegetation in a desert biome. The accumulation of run-off water in diggings and depressions made by animals increases the carrying capacity of these microhabitats in the desert biome. The accumulation of run-off water does not only benefit the natural vegetation; a system of human-made depressions can be evolved to increase the catchment of the run-off water that is typical to many desert habitats, and can lead to run-off agriculture in such areas. This book will be of interest to anyone working in the fields of development of deserts from the ecological point of view, water resources, soil protection and erosion, plant ecophysiology and settlement, and agronomy. It will be helpful to students, researchers, teachers, and anyone interested in any of these areas.

Now in its 50th edition, this title continues to provide the most up-to-date geo-political and economic information for this important world area. - Covers the Middle East and North Africa from Algeria to Yemen - Offers quick access to a wide range of data - Accurately and impartially records the latest political and economic developments - Provides comprehensive data on all major organizations in the region. General Survey - Introductory essays covering topics relating to the region as a whole including: Arab-Israeli Relations 1967-2003; The Jerusalem Issue; Documents on Palestine; The Removal of Saddam Hussain and the 'Deconstruction' of Iraq; Natural Gas in the Middle East and North Africa; Oil in the Middle East and North Africa and Islamic Banking and Finance. Country Surveys - Individual chapters on each country containing: articles on geography, recent history and economy; an economic and demographic survey using all the latest available statistics on population, agriculture, industry, finance, trade, transport, tourism, and education; directory sections with names, addresses and contact numbers covering the constitution, government, legislature, judiciary, political organizations, diplomatic representation, religious groups, the media, finance, trade and industry (including petroleum), and tourism. Regional Information - Includes all major international organizations active in the region, their aims, activities, publications and principal personnel - Research Institutes specializing in the region - Bibliographies of books and periodicals covering the Middle East and North Africa.