Desertification

Desertification is a type of gradual land degradation of fertile land into arid desert due to a combination of natural processes and human activities.^[2] This spread of arid areas is caused by a variety of factors, such as overexploitation of soil as a result of human activity and the effects of climate change.^[3]^[4] Geographic areas most affected are located in Africa (Sahel region), Asia (Gobi Desert and Mongolia) and parts of South America. Drylands occupy approximately 40–41% of Earth's land area and are home to more than 2 billion people.^[5] Effects of desertification include sand and dust storms, food insecurity, and poverty.

Humans can fight desertification in various ways. For instance, improving soil quality, greening deserts, managing grazing better, and planting trees (reforestation and afforestation) can all help reverse desertification.

Throughout geological history, the development of deserts has occurred naturally over long intervals of time.^[6] The modern study of desertification emerged from the study of the 1980s drought in the Sahel.^[7]

^ European Commission. Joint Research Centre. (2018). World atlas of desertification :rethinking land degradation and sustainable land management. LU: Publications Office. doi:10.2760/9205.
^ "Desertification - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics". www.sciencedirect.com. Archived from the original on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
^ "Sustainable development of drylands and combating desertification". Archived from the original on 4 August 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
^ Zeng, Ning; Yoon, Jinho (1 September 2009). "Expansion of the world's deserts due to vegetation-albedo feedback under global warming". Geophysical Research Letters. 36 (17): L17401. Bibcode:2009GeoRL..3617401Z. doi:10.1029/2009GL039699. ISSN 1944-8007. S2CID 1708267.
^ Global Drylands Report unemg.org 2018
^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference :6 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[1] European Commission. Joint Research Centre. (2018). World atlas of desertification :rethinking land degradation and sustainable land management. LU: Publications Office. doi:10.2760/9205.

[2] "Desertification - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics". www.sciencedirect.com. Archived from the original on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2022.

[3] "Sustainable development of drylands and combating desertification". Archived from the original on 4 August 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2016.

[Zeng_L17401-4] Zeng, Ning; Yoon, Jinho (1 September 2009). "Expansion of the world's deserts due to vegetation-albedo feedback under global warming". Geophysical Research Letters. 36 (17): L17401. Bibcode:2009GeoRL..3617401Z. doi:10.1029/2009GL039699. ISSN 1944-8007. S2CID 1708267.

[:5-5] Global Drylands Report unemg.org 2018

[:1-6] Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[:6-7] Cite error: The named reference :6 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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