Desertification is the gradual change from semi-arid marginal land to desert. It is not usually the result of short-term drought, but rather longer-term regional climate change – but this isn't the main cause.
The main cause of desertification is the pressure of overgrazing, overcultivation and deforestation due to rising populations.
Underlying these human causes is the change from nomadic and semi-nomadic lifestyles – which have traditonally made sustainable use of semi-arid areas – to the formation permanent settlements favoured by modern governments. |
