The term Desertification refers to degradation of land in semiarid regions caused primarily by which factor?

The term Desertification refers to degradation of land in semiarid regions caused primarily by which factor?

• A. Volcanic activity
• B. Human actions such as overcropping and overgrazing
• C. Ocean currents
• D. Seasonal droughts

Answer: (B)

Desertification is the long-term degradation of land in semiarid areas caused by processes that strip away soil structure and fertility, making the land less able to support vegetation. The primary driver is human action—practices like overcropping and overgrazing remove protective plant cover, loosen and erode the soil, deplete nutrients, and reduce the land’s capacity to hold moisture. Over time, these effects accumulate and the land shifts toward desert-like conditions, even if rainfall doesn’t change much. While drought and climate variability can worsen the situation, they are not the main cause when degradation is driven by sustained mistreatment of the land.

Desertification is the long-term degradation of land in semiarid areas caused by processes that strip away soil structure and fertility, making the land less able to support vegetation. The primary driver is human action—practices like overcropping and overgrazing remove protective plant cover, loosen and erode the soil, deplete nutrients, and reduce the land’s capacity to hold moisture. Over time, these effects accumulate and the land shifts toward desert-like conditions, even if rainfall doesn’t change much. While drought and climate variability can worsen the situation, they are not the main cause when degradation is driven by sustained mistreatment of the land.