How does desertification develop?
Desertification is persistent land degradation in drylands caused by climatic variability and human activities.
How the process forms and its main drivers
Overgrazing, bare soil, poor irrigation and deforestation can increase erosion and salinization. The process is not merely advancing dunes.
Evidence, applications and limits
Ground cover, managed grazing and suitable drainage help. Uniform tree planting is not right everywhere, and water budgets must be considered. Local outcomes vary with climate, geology, topography and human influence, so they require long-term measurements.
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