According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), desertification threatens one-third of the world's land area, affecting the livelihoods of millions of people who rely on the ecosystem services provided by drylands. The main causes of desertification include developmental projects, urbanization, shiting cultivation, raw material, and fuel requirements among others. This article will explain to you the Causes of Desertification which will be helpful in preparing the Environment syllabus for the UPSC Civil service exam.

Causes of Desertification

What is Desertification?

• Desertification is a type of land degradation in which biological production is lost as a result of natural processes or human activity, causing productive areas to become progressively dry.
• It is the extension of arid areas in relation to a multitude of factors, including climate change and human-caused soil overexploitation.
• The formation of deserts has occurred naturally throughout geological history.
• Many scientific studies have recently been conducted on the possible effects of human activity, poor land management, deforestation, and climate change on desertification.

Causes of Desertification

The causes of desertification can be primarily divided into namely: natural causes and anthropogenic causes.

Anthropogenic Causes

Shifting Cultivation

• Desertification becomes more of a reality for the area used for farming when the soil is stripped of its nutrients.
• Shifting Cultivation on the other hand puts the land area at risk of soil erosion.
• After two or three years of raising vegetable and grain crops on cleared land, the migrants abandon it for another plot in shifting agriculture.
• Slash-and-burn procedures are commonly used to clear land—trees, bushes, and woods are slashed and the leftover vegetation is burned.
• Thus it causes desertification.

Overexploitation & Development Project

• The land is becoming more prone to desertification as demand for land resources rises owing to concerns such as overcrowding.
• Human-induced development pressure on land on the other hand is one of the primary drivers of desertification.
• These factors are closely linked to population levels in the sensitive drylands.

Overgrazing

• Overgrazing occurs when there are too many cows or other animals eating grass in a given region, causing environmental degradation.
• It has become a major issue in many locations that are transitioning to desert biomes.
• When there is an imbalance between the grazing animals and the availability of grasses in one area, it makes it harder for the plants to regrow.
• This causes the biome to suffer and lose its former green riches.
• Between 2005 and 2015, India lost nearly 31% of its grasslands which is relatively a high figure.

Deforestation

• The intentional clearance of forested areas is known as deforestation.
• A forest works as a carbon sink, absorbing carbon from the atmosphere.
• Deforestation contributes to the greenhouse effect by releasing carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere.
• When people seek to settle in a particular area or require trees to build houses or perform other chores, they are contributing to desertification issues.
• The rest of the biome cannot exist without the presence of plants (particularly trees).

Excessive Use of Fertilizers and Pesticides

• Excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides to increase crop yields in the near term frequently results in substantial soil degradation.
• This could eventually turn fertile land into desert land.
• After a few years of intensive farming, the resulting arid land will no longer be suitable for farming since the soil has been degraded too much.
• Thus it causes desertification.

Soil Pollution

• Desertification is worsened by soil pollution.
• The majority of plants are quite sensitive to their surroundings.
• When soil gets polluted as a result of different human activities, the affected region of land may eventually experience desertification.
• The more pollution there is, the more soil degradation occurs over time.

Mining

• Desertification can also be attributed to mining.
• To meet our need for material products, industries must take large amounts of resources.
• Large tracts of land must be mined, resulting in deforestation and contamination of the surrounding areas.
• By the time the majority of natural resources have been exploited and mining operations are no longer lucrative, the soil has been considerably harmed, the area becomes arid, and desertification must have occurred.

Natural Causes

Natural Disasters

• Natural calamities, such as drought, can cause land degradation in some circumstances.
• There isn’t much that individuals can do in those situations besides work to assist rebuild the land once it has been harmed by nature.
• Soil Erosion is one such thing that can be caused by natural disasters such as floods, droughts, and landslides.
• Fertile soil will be displaced as a result. This eventually causes desertification.

Water And Wind Erosion

• The erosion of water leads to Badland Topography. This is a stage of desertification in and of itself.
• By losing topsoil, wind erosion creates desertification.
• Wind erosion is the breakdown and transfer of rock and soil debris from one area to another by the wind.
• Topsoil is removed initially by the wind. As topsoil is nutrient-dense, it contributes significantly to an area's productivity.

Status of Indian Desertification

• Desertification is destroying India's cultivated lands.
• 96 million hectares, or over 29% of India's total land area, are being degraded.
• According to data recently given to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), India lost 31 percent of its grassland acreage in a decade, or 5.65 million hectares (mha).
• In India, degraded land covers over 105 million hectares or about 32% of the country's total land area.
• Between 2003-05 and 2011-13, the level of desertification in 26 of India's 29 states increased.
• Only nine states account for more than 80% of the country's damaged land.

Conclusion

The key to solving most of our environmental problems is research. The same applies to desertification as well. Attempting to prevent desertification can be challenging in some instances. In certain circumstances, research and application of cutting-edge technologies are required to push the boundaries of what we now know about the causes of desertification. Advancements may enable us to discover new strategies to keep the problem from becoming an epidemic.

FAQs

MCQs

1. Which of the following is a primary cause of desertification?

A) Deforestation
B) Urbanization
C) Excessive irrigation
D) All of the above

2. How does overgrazing contribute to desertification?

A) By promoting soil fertility
B) By increasing plant cover
C) By depleting vegetation and causing soil erosion
D) By improving soil structure

3. Which of the following is a consequence of desertification?

A) Increased agricultural productivity
B) Loss of biodiversity
C) Improved soil quality
D) Enhanced water retention in the soil

4. What is the impact of deforestation on desertification?

A) It enhances soil fertility
B) It increases plant cover
C) It accelerates soil erosion
D) It decreases evaporation

5. Which of the following human activities is linked to desertification?

A) Organic farming
B) Over-cultivation
C) Sustainable irrigation practices
D) Reforestation

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Examine the impact of desertification on food security in India and suggest possible measures to combat it.

Answer: Desertification has a profound impact on food security in India, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions such as Rajasthan, parts of Gujarat, and Maharashtra. The loss of soil fertility and water scarcity reduces agricultural productivity, leading to food shortages and economic distress. Measures to combat desertification include:

• Water Conservation: Implementing rainwater harvesting, promoting efficient irrigation techniques, and improving water management practices.
• Reforestation and Afforestation: Planting trees and vegetation to prevent soil erosion and restore soil health.
• Soil Conservation: Techniques like crop rotation, agroforestry, and terracing to preserve soil structure and fertility.

These steps, along with the adoption of sustainable farming practices, can mitigate the effects of desertification and ensure long-term food security in vulnerable regions.

Q2: Discuss the role of climate change in accelerating desertification and its global implications.

Answer: Climate change accelerates desertification by altering precipitation patterns, increasing temperatures, and exacerbating droughts. Reduced rainfall and higher evaporation rates lead to water scarcity, drying up previously fertile lands and promoting soil degradation. Rising temperatures increase the frequency of extreme weather events, such as storms and floods, which further erode soil. The global implications of desertification due to climate change include reduced agricultural productivity, loss of biodiversity, displacement of populations, and increased migration due to the uninhabitability of affected regions. Mitigation strategies include reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting sustainable land management, and enhancing global cooperation to combat desertification.

Q3: What are the socio-economic consequences of desertification, and how can policies be designed to address these challenges?

Answer: Desertification has severe socio-economic consequences, including the loss of agricultural income, reduced access to clean water, and increased poverty in affected areas. It also leads to migration as communities are forced to leave degraded lands in search of better opportunities. Policies to address these challenges should include:

• Integrated Land Management: Implementing policies that combine soil conservation, water management, and sustainable agricultural practices.
• Support for Affected Communities: Providing financial support, training, and resources to communities affected by desertification.
• International Cooperation: Collaborating with international organizations to implement programs that fight desertification on a global scale.

These policies can help reduce the socio-economic impacts of desertification and promote sustainable development in vulnerable regions.

Previous Year Questions on Desertification

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2021:

Question: Which of the following is NOT a cause of desertification?

A) Overgrazing
B) Deforestation
C) Urbanization
D) Sustainable farming practices

Answer: (D)

Explanation: Sustainable farming practices do not contribute to desertification. In fact, they help in combating it by maintaining soil health and water retention.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2020 (GS Paper 3):

Question: Discuss the impact of desertification on India’s environment and its socio-economic consequences.

Answer: Desertification in India has led to the loss of fertile land, reduced agricultural yields, and a decrease in biodiversity, especially in the arid regions. The socio-economic consequences include increased poverty, rural-urban migration, and food insecurity. The government must focus on implementing sustainable agricultural practices, increasing water conservation, and promoting afforestation to mitigate desertification and ensure long-term environmental and economic sustainability.