Halting the scourge of desertification

Abstract

D esertification has been called ‘the greatest environmental challenge of our times’. But what is it and why should we be concerned about it? Almost 40% of the Earth’s total land surface is dryland. These semi-arid areas are defined by their modest water supply (they receive less than 600 millimetres of rain a year). They are not as dry as deserts, although they often border deserts. Drylands are called by many names: plains, grasslands, savannas or steppes. Dryland ecosystems are especially fragile, and can easily be overused by the people who depend on them, resulting in the degradation of the land. For example, overgrazing by livestock can encourage wind and water erosion, while the collection of firewood reduces or eliminates plants that help to bind the soil. Irresponsible agricultural practices, such as overcultivation, can exhaust the soil, preventing further plant growth. These poor land management practices can turn productive dryland into non-productive desert. This is known as desertification.

Authors

Categories