Deserts and Desertification
When discussing deserts, it is essential to distinguish between deserts as a specific ecological system and desertification as a defined process.
Deserts
Deserts are vast expanses of land characterized by arid conditions and limited water resources, with the plural form being “deserts.” They represent a climatic phenomenon and are defined by their extreme dryness, consistently high temperatures, and significant seasonal variations. Except for polar deserts, these regions are marked by minimal rainfall and occasional sudden storms. The soils within deserts are underdeveloped due to the harsh natural conditions that hinder the growth of organic life, leading to sparse, dwarf, and thorny vegetation.
Desertification
Desertification refers to the transformation of arable land into desert, often caused by human activities. This rapid development of deserts results from the sudden and accelerated degradation of arid or semi-arid lands, typically driven by overgrazing, deforestation, excessive groundwater extraction, drought, and unsustainable agricultural practices, or a detrimental combination of these factors.
Impacts of Desertification on Food Security
The process of desertification is quite evident. As ground previously covered by vegetation loses its plant life, its temperature rises significantly, worsening climate change. Warmer soils release carbon into the atmosphere more rapidly than cooler soils, contributing to the global increase of carbon dioxide levels.
When plants are consumed through overgrazing or destroyed, their root structures disappear. Consequently, vast amounts of carbon stored in plants are released into the atmosphere, where it was once securely sequestered. Additionally, the organic matter stored in the soil is also released into the atmosphere, exacerbating the already elevated levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Desertification, land degradation, and drought adversely affect soil, vegetation, and water resources, increasing greenhouse gas emissions and threatening vulnerable populations through reduced agricultural productivity and food production.
Food Security in Arid Areas
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, food security is achieved when all individuals have physical and economic access at all times to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and preferences for an active and healthy life. However, this condition is unattainable for one-sixth of the global population, the majority of whom reside in arid regions. This situation is attributed to both internal factors characteristic of these areas and external factors that exacerbate conditions at various levels.
Effects of Desertification on the Environment and Humanity
Social and environmental processes significantly impact the world’s arable lands and essential pastures needed for food, water, and clean air. Consequently, land degradation and desertification can affect human health through intricate pathways.
As land degrades and deserts expand in certain regions, food production decreases, water sources dry up, and populations are forced to migrate to more fertile areas.
The potential health impacts of desertification include:
- Increased risk of malnutrition due to diminished food and water supplies.
- Higher incidence of waterborne and foodborne diseases resulting from poor sanitation and lack of clean water.
- Proliferation of infectious diseases due to population displacement.