What Is Desertification ?
Desertification is the persistent degradation of dry land ecosystems by variations in climate and human activity. A major impact of desertification is loss of biodiversity and productivity of the land. |
Desertification is caused by a combination of social, political, economic and natural factors, and the impact of each varies from region to region.
Overgrazing is the major cause of desertification worldwide. Early human pastoralists allowed their domestic animals to follow the natural system and move in response to food and water availability, which was in turn a function of rainfall. But in modern times, the use of fencing has prevented domestic animals to move in response to food availability and this has resulted in over-grazing, and subsequent desertification.
Over drafting of groundwater and diversion of waters from rivers for human consumption and industrial use are also common causes of desertification.
Natural processes interacting over long periods of time formed the earth’s great deserts. During these historic times deserts have grown and shrunk completely independent of human intervention. In some areas, deserts are separated from surrounding less arid areas by sharply contrasting landforms like mountains or other geological differences. Other areas show a more gradual progression from a dry to a more humid environment, making it difficult to identify a distinct border of the desert. These dry lands occupy nearly half of the earth’s area and are home to nearly a third of the earth’s population. Thus, millions of people rely on the livelihood provided by these ecosystems and desertification poses a major threat to the sustenance of a very large percentage of life on the earth.
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