Desertification is a land degradation process in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid regions driven by complex interactions among climate variability, anthropogenic pressure, and ecosystem sensitivity. It involves the persistent reduction of biological productivity, soil fertility, and vegetation cover, often through mechanisms such as accelerated soil erosion, salinization, nutrient depletion, and disruption of hydrological cycles. Key drivers include unsustainable land use (overgrazing, deforestation, improper irrigation, and intensive cultivation) combined with drought and increasing climate stress. Desertification alters carbon and nutrient cycling, promotes loss of biodiversity and soil organic matter, and can trigger feedbacks that further reduce ecosystem resilience and land-use sustainability.
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