Desertification (Noun)
Meaning
The gradual transformation of habitable land into desert; is usually caused by climate change or by destructive use of the land; "the dust storms in Korea are the result of rapid desertification in China".
Classification
Nouns denoting natural processes.
Examples
- The effects of desertification are already being felt in many parts of the world, from the Sahel region of Africa to the American Southwest.
- As the planet warms due to climate change, the pace of desertification is likely to accelerate, with severe consequences for human settlements and wildlife.
- The dust storms in Korea are the result of rapid desertification in China, where unsustainable farming practices and deforestation have stripped the land of its natural vegetation.
- In parts of Australia, desertification is threatening the fragile ecosystem, as native plants and animals struggle to survive in the increasingly arid conditions.
- The African Union has launched a major initiative to combat desertification, recognizing the serious threat it poses to food security, human health, and economic development across the continent.