The severe droughts and forest fires of recent years underline Mediterranean Europe’s continuing vulnerability to desertification 300 000 square kilometres of territory are currently affected, threatening the livelihoods of 16.5 million Europeans. A new satellite-based service is set to provide a continuous monitoring of regions most at risk.
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http://www.esa.int/export/esaEO/SEMPMCWJD1E_index_0.html