Sustainability Language

Biodiversity & Nature

Desertification

Land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from climatic variations and human activities — the subject of the UNCCD.

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Definition

Desertification is defined by Article 1 of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (1994) as land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas resulting from various factors, including climatic variations and human activities. It means the conversion of usable drylands into unproductive land through drivers such as overgrazing, cultivation-induced erosion, deforestation and water mismanagement — not the natural expansion of existing deserts. Desertification affects the livelihoods of millions, a large share of them poor dryland populations.

References

Overview

What it means

A human-driven degradation process specific to drylands, where over 40 per cent of African and Asian populations live.

How it is used

The term anchors the UNCCD (one of the three Rio Conventions), SDG target 15. 3 and land degradation neutrality commitments made by more than 130 countries.

Why it matters

Desertification links soil, climate, food security and migration; its treaty definition makes it one of the most legally precise land terms in sustainability.

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