Why does Desertification matter?

  • Desertification is a significant global ecological and environmental problem with far-reaching consequences on socio-economic and political conditions.
  • When land becomes desert, its ability to support people and animals hitherto dependent on it declines sharply. While for humans, this results in agriculture failure, decline in food security, malnutrition and loss of livelihood for wildlife, it could be loss of habitat, biodiversity and food source.
  • The economically weak will be the worst hit, according to a study presented at the UNCCD. Approximately 80% of “the worlds’ extremely poor’ live in rural areas and land degradation has become an important factor in rural poverty. Desertification can also cause displacement of millions of people.
  • Another impact of desertification is an increase in sand and dust storms. These natural phenomena occur when strong winds blow loose sand and dirt from bare, dry soil. Dust storms can have a huge impact on human health, contributing to respiratory disorders such impact on human health, contributing to respiratory disorders such as asthma and pneumonia, cardiovascular issues and skin irritations as well as polluting open water sources.
  • More than 75% of Earth’s land area is already degraded, according to the European Commission’s World Atlas of Desertification, and more than 90% could become degraded by 2050.

 

Picture Credit : Google