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The general objective of this Department is focused on two driven ideas, the study of the evolution of the Mediterranean ecosystems under on adverse climate trends, and the evaluation of the increasing pressure of the human development at expenses of sustainability.
In this context, the work developed has been oriented to:

Desertification: Causes and Effects, the research work is based on experimental studies in field conditions and in the development of models and strategies to study and evaluate the process. It includes the monitoring of changes in quality and dynamics of soil in affected zones, and the identification and development of indicators. In the framework of this line, it is made in addition, on intense scientific advisory work to diverse national and international organisms.

Soil Degradation Processes in Mediterranean Environments, in this objective the more important factors tackled are:

- Forest fires: controlled and intensively monitored experimental studies in field and laboratory conditions are developed focused on the evolution and assessment of the changes in pedological, erosive, vegetation and climatic parameters induced by them. Two experimental field stations are maintained since 1987 and 1994, respectively.

- Contamination and Salinization of Soils and Waters: it is based on the evaluation and monitoring of the extent of contamination and salinization processes in the affected zones. One of the branches of this research is the development of suitable analytical methodologies considering also the detection of emergent polluting agents of great importance nowadays.

- New Approaches on Soil Degradation Assessment: focused in the use of innovative methods, technologies and strategies to assess monitor and predict soil degradation processes and their future trends. It includes new approaches in spatial data base infrastructures, data and metadata management, remote sensing, etc.

Erosion Processes at Different Scales: through interrelating studies of the incidence of the erosive processes at plot and catchment scales and its relation with the climatic variability, and also to its effects on soil hydrology and the ecosystems.

Soil Conservation and Restoration: Traditional Systems and New Techniques, in base, mainly, to the research on traditional techniques of soil and water conservation, including its historical evolution and the consequences of its abandonment; on the effect of its dynamics in the erosion processes, and to the soil physical effects of the use of organic amendments for soil restoration.

Soil Structure and the Functioning of the Soil System: It is focused on the study of microstructure characteristics and its dynamics as a key factor in soil productivity and ecological functions. It is developed by mean of field and laboratory studies of soil intrinsic parameters (soil components, CO2 dynamics, cementing compounds, etc.) under different environmental conditions and threats.

The Department, through its personnel, participates in the elaboration, development and monitoring of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, an also in its Regional Annex IV dedicated to the Mediterranean Europe. It collaborates in the regional and national Plans to control desertification, as well as in committees and initiatives of the European Union. The Department was also behind the awarding for the CIDE of the central headquarters of the European Topic Center on Soil of the European Environment Agency and, at the present time, one of its members leads the European Society for Soil Conservation (ESSC) and is member of the European Soil Bureau Network.
At national level, it participates in the activities of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including initiatives and programs, and in the technical and legislative document writing.

During the last years it has participated in numerous projects at regional, national and of the European Union level, of which abundant scientific publications in international journals, complete book chapters and books have been made.

The vision of the research Department is to be a referent group on studies on soil degradation processes, factors and causes in Mediterranean environments, as well as in the appraisal of measures for its restoration and conservation.

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