Desertification

Desertification is the process of good land turning into desert. It happens when the soil dries out and plants can no longer grow. This can be caused by too little rain, cutting down too many trees, or farming the land too hard. Desertification threatens the food and water supply of millions of people.

How Land Becomes Desert

When people cut down trees and overgraze their animals, the soil is left bare and exposed. Wind and rain carry the topsoil away. Without healthy soil, new plants cannot grow. The land becomes dry and barren. Climate change makes the problem worse by bringing less rain to already dry areas.

Fighting Desertification

People around the world are working to stop desertification. In Africa, the Great Green Wall project aims to plant a belt of trees across the entire continent. Farmers are learning to rotate crops and let fields rest. Drip irrigation saves water and keeps soil moist. These efforts help bring life back to dry land.

Fun Facts

• About 12 million hectares of land become desert every year, an area about the size of Pennsylvania.
• The Great Green Wall of Africa aims to stretch 5,000 miles across the continent.
• Desertification affects about 2 billion people worldwide.

Did You Know?

The Sahara Desert is spreading southward at a rate of about 30 miles per year in some areas!