What Is Desertification?

Desertification is land degradation in arid and semi-arid regions, a change caused by human activities and climatic variations. Desertification reduces water availability, agricultural productivity, biodiversity, and introduces social issues such as poverty and migration. Combating desertification requires sustainable land management practices, reforestation efforts, and international cooperation to restore degraded lands and support affected communities, such as the semi-arid Sahel region in Africa.