Desertification

Abstract

Desertification is land degradation in arid, semiarid, and dry subhumid areas resulting from various factors. It is a multifaceted phenomenon caused by complex interactions of a number of physical, biological, political, social, cultural, and economic factors impacting the socioeconomic conditions of millions living in the drylands. Desertification is one of the major global environmental as well as developmental issues largely because of its impact on agriculture growth, food production, and rural livelihoods. Though the phenomenon of desertification is very old, the scientific understanding of it and the efforts made to address it are recent. Today communities all over the world have taken various measures to combat desertification under the framework of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). Overall, there is insufficient evidence to show the extent of progress that has been made in combating desertification. In some of the areas, the progress, or lack of it, has yet to be determined.