Desertification
Desertification is the process by which fertile or productive land in arid and semi-arid regions degrades into desert-like conditions through a combination of drought and unsustainable land use practices. It affects over 1 billion people globally and is both a natural hazard and human-caused problem.
Real World
In the Sahel region, countries such as Niger and Burkina Faso have experienced advancing desertification since the 1970s droughts, where overgrazing by expanding livestock herds stripped vegetation and accelerated soil erosion, pushing millions into food insecurity.
Exam Focus
When explaining desertification, always link both physical triggers (drought) and human causes (land use) — single-cause answers rarely access the top mark band.
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