Desertification

Desertification is the process by which fertile land becomes desert due to drought, deforestation or inappropirate agriculture. Cause of desertification around the world:

Africa: Major reasons for deforestation here is 1) Overgrazing 2)Agricultural activities and 3)Overexploitation of vegetation for domestic use. Examples: Horn of Africa and the Sahel have been affected by huge amount of droughts these year.

Europe: Overgrazing and Deforestation are the main reasons for the desertification. Water scarcity and droughts are becoming increasing threats to Europe. 

Asia: 1) Overgrazing 2)Deforestation 3)Agricultural activities are constitute causes in a decreasing order. A UNCCD reports show that there are expanding deserts in China, India, Iran, Mongolia and Pakistan, encroaching sand dunes in Syria, steeply eroded mountain slopes of Nepal, and deforested and overgrazed highlands in the Lao People's Democratic Republic.

Australia: Overgrazing is the major cause of desertification and results to about 90% of deserted land in Australia.

Latin America and Caribbean nations (one-fourth desert and drylands): The major cause in Latin America is agricultural activities. Poverty and pressure on natural resources are critical factors driving land degradation in much of Latin America and the Caribbean. Brazil has semi-arid zones and tropical savannahs, large parts of Colombia and Venezuela are highly degraded, in Dominican Republic, Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica, erosion and water shortages are the major problems.

North America: Arid lands in parts of North America are among those severely affected by desertification. Deforestation being the major cause along with overgrazing. Excessive withdrawl of groundwater is killing the ability of aquifers to replenish.

Integrating land and water management, protecting vegetative cover, keeping overgrazing in check, turning to livelihood sources that do not depend on traditional land use can be adopted to keep desertification in control.