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→Climate change: copied content from effects of climate change on biomes, see there for attribution history |
→top: replaced image with an EU global drylands projection based on the aridity index. Publication is from the "Atlas of Desertification" Cherlet, M., Hutchinson, C., Reynolds, J., Hill, J., Sommer, S., von Maltitz, G. (Eds.), World Atlas of Desertification, Publication Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2018. CCBY 4.0. The old figure had no traceable reference (404 URL). |
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{{Short description|Process by which fertile areas of land become increasingly arid}}
{{distinguish|NLRB election procedures#Decertification elections{{!}}Decertification|Desertion}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
[[File:Global distribution of dryland subtypes based on the aridity index.png|thumb|Global distribution of dryland subtypes based on the aridity index 1981-2010]]
'''Desertification''' is a type of gradual [[land degradation]] of [[Soil fertility|fertile]] land into arid [[desert]] due to a combination of natural processes and human activities.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Desertification - an overview {{!}} ScienceDirect Topics |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/desertification |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=www.sciencedirect.com |archive-date=2022-04-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403121044/https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/desertification |url-status=live }}</ref> This spread of arid areas is caused by a variety of factors, such as [[overexploitation]] of [[soil]] as a result of human activity and the [[effects of climate change]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Sustainable development of drylands and combating desertification |url=http://www.fao.org/docrep/v0265e/v0265e01.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804222104/http://www.fao.org/docrep/v0265e/v0265e01.htm |archive-date=4 August 2017 |access-date=21 June 2016}}</ref><ref name="Zeng L17401">{{Cite journal |last1=Zeng |first1=Ning |last2=Yoon |first2=Jinho |date=1 September 2009 |title=Expansion of the world's deserts due to vegetation-albedo feedback under global warming |journal=Geophysical Research Letters |volume=36 |issue=17 |page=L17401 |bibcode=2009GeoRL..3617401Z |doi=10.1029/2009GL039699 |issn=1944-8007 |s2cid=1708267 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Geographic areas most affected are located in Africa ([[Sahel]] region), Asia ([[Gobi Desert]] and [[Mongolia]]) and parts of [[South America]]. [[Drylands]] occupy approximately 40–41% of Earth's land area and are home to more than 2 billion people.<ref name=":5">[https://unemg.org/2018/images/emgdocs/publications/Global_Drylands_Full_Report.pdf Global Drylands Report] unemg.org 2018</ref> Effects of desertification include [[Sand storm|sand and dust storms]], [[Food security|food insecurity]], and [[poverty]].
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