The drylands of the world cover approximately 40 percent of the earth's land surface and are a direct source of livelihood for about one billion people, especially in developing countries. Although drylands are mainly characterized by aridity and climate variability, they can sustain vegetation and human settlement. They usually support pastoralists and small farmers who attempt to wrest a livelihood from these fragile environments, in addition, dryland ecosystems play an important role by reflecting and absorbing solar radiation and balancing atmospheric conditions.
However, nearly all drylands are at risk of land degradation (desertification) as a result of climate change, increasing human population, land over-use and poverty. Worldwide, about 65 percent of all arable land has already lost some of its biological and physical functions, and drylands are particularly susceptible. This represents a threat to the food security and survival of the people living in these areas. The preservation and sustainable development of drylands are essential to achieve food security and conserve the biomass and biodiversity.
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The poverty and desertification spiral Poverty, food insecurity and desertification are intrinsically linked to each other and need to be tackled jointly. It is often stated that poverty is the driving force and the consequence of desertification. Poverty induces poor women and men to increase the pressure on deteriorating drylands and to exploit the natural resource base in ways that are not sustainable. This speeds up the land degradation process, lowering productivity and incomes and increasing poverty. The result is often famine, malnutrition, epidemics, economic and social instability and migrations, which in turn exacerbate the pressure on natural resources and cause further desertification. |
