Geo-environmental unit

Processes & phenomena and relevance

Biophysical characteristics

Dominant land use

Biophysical

Socioeconomics

A: Plateau; undulating; well-drained sandier soils; shallow tributary streams; semi-deciduous vegetation

Small-scale, extensive dryland agriculture/livestock and exploitations of vegetation; partly conservation

Dryland ecosystem fragmentation (moderate to high); Reduction of vegetation density/diversity (moderate); Increased soil dryness (moderate to high); Soil nutrient depletion in agroecosystems (moderate to high); Erosion by wind (moderate)

High intensity forest exploitation; dryland farming on small farm plots; Extensive grazing on natural pastures; Very low to low density of population villages; partly conservation

B: Gently sloping (long slopes) partially steep slope land; well- to moderately drained sandy loam to loamy sand soils, locally lithic; deep tributary streams; semi-deciduous vegetation

Small-scale, extensive dryland agriculture/livestock and exploitations of vegetation

Dryland ecosystem fragmentation (moderate); Reduced vegetation density/diversity (high); Increased soil nutrient depletion in agroecosystems (moderate to high); Reduced thickness of the uppermost soil horizon (moderate); Erosion by water (moderate to high); Increased dryness (moderate to high)

Forest exploitation (low intensity); dryland farming on small farm plots; Extensive grazing on natural pastures; Low density of population villages (sparse villages); partly conservation

C: Plains and valley bottom of the great river; clay-sand sediments of surface runoff; wetlands and lakes; main rivers

Small-scale, extensive, manual-watered agriculture/livestock; partly conservation

Siltation of lake and wetland ecosystems (moderate); Soil compaction (moderate); Salinization (moderate); Flooding (moderate)

Forest exploitation (very low intensity); dryland/wetland farming on small farm plots; Low partly very high density of population villages; partly conservation