Environmental Geography of the Semi-arid Regions of the Hungarian Great Plains and Arizona: Comparative Changes for Sustainable Productivity

Abstract

A comparative study of the Great Plains of Hungary and the Basin area of Phoenix, Arizona was performed. Both of these regions are experiencing increasing semi-arid conditions via the desertification process taking place in various regions across the globe. The environmental, geographical, and physical aspects arc discussed and analyzed with the goal of developing new environmental policies. The main emphasis is to be placed on the fact that the key to sustainable development is proper land use. Through analysis of the anthropogenic influences of agricultural production, urbanization, and industrialization, recommendations are given to decrease the negative effects of human influence in the wake of significant climate changes. The effects of these climate changes are predicted for each region, and recommendations presented to either prevent or reverse the ecological changes that have been induced.