World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought

The world is graced with many great deserts, from a vast tapestry of sand dunes in the Sahara to the golden expanse of the Gobi desert in China. These deserts have developed naturally throughout geological history. However, today, human activities and deforestation are leading to an unnatural conversion of many fertile lands into deserts.

Drying Land | Source: DownToEarth

Land is the base where history resides, along with the evolution of the earth itself. The vast diversity of landscapes, from mountains and meadows to lush rainforests, houses the last remaining signs of ancient cultures that existed. Land has inspired artists through the years to capture the beauty that is succoured by it.

Yet, lands are more than just an aesthetic feast. They sustain life in all its forms. Land, rivers, forests, and crops all drive their sustenance from soil and make human existence possible. But, alas, the land that nurtures humanity is being destroyed by them through the ever-growing exploitation of nature’s reserves. This phenomenon is called desertification*,* or the crawling of death on lands.

Desertification is the process of fertile land transforming into a desert, typically as a result of deforestation, drought, or improper/inappropriate agriculture. Drought, however, refers to prolonged periods of low precipitation that result in water shortages and have damaging impacts on the ecosystem and livelihood.

In the face of escalating land degradation and loss of fertile lands, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification was launched. In the same vein, an international day, World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought, was also initiated to be celebrated on 17 June every year. It has been a success so far, with upgraded themes and projects being introduced in successive years. It serves as a platform to raise awareness, promote sustainable land use practices, and mobilise the global population to slow down this land decay.

Agricultural land is the most affected by desertification. Even advanced technological developments and biotechnology prove to be of little help once the land becomes dry and devoid of nutrients. This is one of the many examples of how desertification starts. After deforestation, the land loses its cover, and, along with it, nutrients, organic content, and moisture, thus making it arid. Unsustainable agricultural practices also pose the threat of increased desertification as excessive use of fertilisers and pesticides increases the pace of desertification. The phases of India’s Green Revolution are a confirmation of this — the places that are currently facing desertification coincide with the areas where the focus was only on growing wheat and paddy.

According to the earth's geological history, all existing deserts have formed because of natural factors. However, in the contemporary world, new desert areas are emerging due to anthropogenic factors. This has led to a potential threat to global food security. In fact, many places like the dry lands of Asia and the Sahel region of Africa are seeing a loss of biodiversity, increasing poverty, displaced communities, and droughts. These factors also affect climate patterns in the form of heat waves, which are becoming more frequent, and a decrease in the overall precipitation.

It is high time to pay attention to the menace of desertification and chalk out workable strategies that prevent it and help reclaim the desert lands into fertile fields. In the agricultural field, practices like zero tillage, agro-forestry, less use of chemicals, and growing diverse crops could be of help. Afforestation, rainwater harvesting, and other similar steps can be promoted at local levels. This day should act as a reminder for everyone to be warned about the ensuing threat and to do their part of the contribution.