Definition

The degradation of fertile lands into desert, leaving soils less able or unable to support life. Desertification can be due to human activity (such as deforestation) and climate variation (such as droughts).

Further reading
Explainer: ‘Desertification’ and the role of climate change - CarbonBrief (McSweeney, 2019) [website]
Related

aridification; land degradation; soil aridity; United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD); water scarce; water stressed

See also
Climate change
Deforestation
Droughts
Water scarcity
Water security
Explore by theme
Challenges
Environmental Changes
Drafted by
Chris Graham
Reviewed by
TBC