Earth’s Drylands Expand, Impacting Billions Amid Climate Change

Earth's drylands are growing at an accelerated rate due to climate change, affecting billions of people all over the world. According to a 2024 UN report, seven out of every ten lands on Earth have dried out in the past 30 years, fundamentally transforming ecosystems and ways of life. Drylands now occupy 40.6% of the land area of Earth (excluding Antarctica), and their human population doubled to 2.3 billion. If climate change is not addressed, this figure can increase to 5 billion by 2100.

The Spreading Drylands CrisisWestern United States, Brazil, most of Europe, Asia, and central Africa are experiencing heightened drying. Projected plans show that 3% of the humid land currently will be drylands by 2100, contributing to water scarcity and famine. Some of the most susceptible regions are the U.S. Midwest, central Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, the Mediterranean, Black Sea coast, and southern Africa and Australia. None will be likely to shift from drylands to humid in the near term.

Comprehending DesertificationDesertification occurs when the land is rendered unproductive due to persistent drying, at times compounded by climate change and poor land management. Unlike droughts that recur every so often, desertification causes permanent damage to soil. Approximately 25–35% of drylands are currently undergoing desertification, reducing agricultural yields, causing loss of biodiversity, and increasing the frequency of dust storms. Such impacts undermine food security, cause migration, and increase geopolitical tensions over resources.

Causes of Desertification
One of the major causes is climate change, which has increased drought occurrence by 29% between 2000 and now. Unsustainable land use for farming such as overgrazing, deforestation, and intensive irrigation cause soil erosion. As much as 24 billion tons of fertile soil are lost through erosion every year. Excessive withdrawal of water from ground aquifers, such as in the Aral Sea disaster, also accelerates land degradation. Urbanization and population pressure also add to the burden on the environment, leading to increased land exploitation.

Effects of DesertificationThe loss of fertile land reduces the availability of food and water, and economic poverty follows. If trends are not reversed, world crop production could decline by 50% by 2050. Aquifer depletion in dry regions results in severe water shortages, and loss of biodiversity threatens ecosystems. More dust storms create health risks, and wildfires are more frequent with dry vegetation. These are the environmental problems that force millions to migrate, increasing resource conflicts in already vulnerable areas. Desertification also releases carbon trapped in the soil into the atmosphere, thereby accelerating climate change further.

Can Desertification Be Reversed?
While desertification is considered to be irreversible, there have been successful restoration efforts. China's Loess Plateau was reformed by terracing, reforestation, and water harvesting. Africa's Great Green Wall program, launched in 2007, is actively striving to restore 100 million hectares of land in 11 countries of the Sahel. Despite the challenges, including lack of proper funding and high tree mortality rates, approximately 30 million hectares of land have been restored.

Urban forestation in Dakar, Senegal, and Bolivia's Altiplano reforestation project have also yielded positive outcomes. Strategies to Combat DesertificationSteps taken to combat desertification are focused on sustainable land management, water conservation, and local community participation. Reforestation of indigenous species such as acacia and juniper trees maintains soil moisture. Terracing, rainwater harvesting, and drip irrigation systems improve water use efficiency. Regenerative agriculture through crop rotation, natural fertilizers, and reduced tillage supports soil health. Local indigenous water management practices such as rock dams and zai pits in Burkina Faso increase local resilience.

Cooperation between inter-governmental, NGOs, and communities is crucial for the success of such initiatives.

Organizations Fight DesertificationThere are various international initiatives that are addressing land degradation. Policy globally is directed by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, and UNEP's Generation Restoration initiative calls for city green spaces to initiate urban restoration. The IUCN's Global Drylands Initiative, Nature Conservancy regenerative agricultural programs, and the EcoRestoration Alliance address ecosystem restoration. These groups are engaging in policy implementation, fundraising, and helping with community-based solutions to fight the impacts of desertification.

Conclusion

Desertification is one of the most important environmental issues, which threaten food security, biodiversity, and human settlements. As land degradation is still fueled by climate change, there are ecological restoration and sustainable land management hope-for propositions to stop some of the declines. Abating the impact of desertification and protecting billions of people's livelihoods are possible through investment in long-term solutions and cooperation worldwide. 

Source & Credits: State of the Planet, UN Reports, IUCN, UNEP, Nature Conservancy