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Desertification Indicator System for Mediterranean Europe


1. Definition

Name IRRIGATION POTENTIAL REALISED
Brief definition Ratio between irrigated land and irrigable land
Unit of measure %

2. Position within the logical framework DPSIR

Type of Indicator Driving Force

3. Target and political pertinence

Objective The purpose is to show the amount of actual irrigation water use in the area where there is irrigation equipment.
Importance with respect to desertification This indicator shows to what extent irrigation water resources are available, actually used or (for many reasons) not used. In many areas there are irrigation infrastructures but, due to reduction in water availability, it is not used for agriculture anymore.
International Conventions and agreements The UNCCD emphasizes the development of sustainable irrigation programmes for both crops and livestock as a measure to prepare for and mitigate the effects of drought.
Secondary objectives of the indicator The indicator has political relevance and reflects the arising conflicts in the use of water resource.

4. Methodological description and basic definitions

Definitions and basic concepts Irrigated area is defined as an area equipped with hydraulic structures. Irrigable land is "Arable land under a specific plan for which water supply is or can be made available and which is (planned to be) provided with irrigation, drainage, flood protection, and other facilities necessary to sustain irrigation." (USBR Land Suitability for Irrigation)
Benchmarks Indication of the values/ranges of value Trend
Methods of measurement Irrigated area (area equipped with hydraulic structures) divided by irrigable land
Limits of the indicator The indicator value does not capture the reasons that can effectively condition the use of water resources.
Linkages with other indicators Water leakage, Irrigated area, Standard gross income.

5. Evaluation of data needs and availability

Data required to calculate the indicator Data on irrigated land and irrigable land.
Data sources Regional and National Agencies involved in the managing of water resources (i.e. Authority of Basin in Italy).
Availability of data from national and international sources Recent data are available at the country level in FAO's AQUASTAT (1994/1995) which is directly based on official national data. Data are also available from national sources in some countries only. The data are estimated by countries at various periods and are then interpolated. Data from 1970s are available as part of country statistics in WAICENT

6. Institutions that have participated in developing the indicator

Main institutions responsible University of Basilicata
Other contributing organizations Universities of Athens, Lisbon, Murcia.

7. Additional information

Bibliography  
Other references The lead agency is the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The contact point is the Assistant Director-General, Sustainability Department, FAO; fax no. (39 6) 5225 3152
Contacts Name and address Prof. Giovanni Quaranta
Dipartimento Tecnico-Economico per la Gestione del Territorio Agricolo-Forestale
Università della Basilicata
Via Macchia Romana
85100 Potenza
Italia
quaranta@unibas.it