What is desertification and what are two human-induced drivers?

• A. Desertification is increasing rainfall and soil fertility.
• B. Desertification occurs only in high latitude forests.
• C. Degradation of land in arid/semi-arid areas; drivers include overgrazing, deforestation, and unsustainable farming.
• D. Desertification is the process of building deserts through urbanization.

Answer: (C)

Desertification is the long-term degradation of land in dry regions, where soil, vegetation, and productivity decline so the land can no longer support crops or grazing. It happens most in arid and semi-arid areas and results from a combo of natural variability and human activities.

Two common human-driven forces are overgrazing, which removes vegetation and compacts soil, increasing erosion and reducing organic matter; and deforestation, which eliminates protective plant cover and harms soil structure and moisture retention. Unsustainable farming practices—like continuous cropping without allowing the soil to recover or using irrigation that leads to salinization and nutrient depletion—also wear down soil fertility and structure. Together, these practices push land toward desert-like conditions, especially when climate variability stresses the system.