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Formerly lush landscapes transform to arid desert. This isn’t a dystopian landscape from a sci-fi movie—it could soon be reality for millions of people.
Desertification is a gradual habitat shift in which formerly productive lands become degraded, lose their vegetative cover, and ultimately become unusable both for people and wildlife. Desertification is caused by many factors, including over farming, overgrazing, and extreme climatic events. According to the United Nations, some 1.2 billion people are threatened by desertification.
Land degradation such as desertification and deforestation is a major contributor to climate change—responsible for nearly a fifth of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. But it’s doing more than harming land, it’s also harming people. Millions of people who live in extreme poverty are directly affected by desertification: their dire economic conditions force them to exploit the land beyond its means, and when it becomes unusable, they often have little choice but to move and start over again, causing further strain to the environment.
Action starts when people talk.
In the midst of so many dire messages about our changing landscape, there are still many actions we can take. First, start a conversation about the issue with friends, family and colleagues. Take a look at our Conversation Starters for relevant and compelling facts. And, learn more about our work by visiting related projects on the Conservancy’s web site, nature.org.
