de·sert·i·fi·ca·tion

(dĭ-zûr′tə-fĭ-kā′shən)

The transformation of arable or habitable land to desert, as by a change in climate or destructive land use.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

desertification

(dɪˌzɜːtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən)

(Geological Science) a process by which fertile land turns into barren land or desert

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

de•sert•i•fi•ca•tion

(dɪˌzɜr tə fɪˈkeɪ ʃən)

n.

the processes by which an area becomes a desert.

[1970–75]

de·sert·i·fi·ca·tion

(dĭ-zûr′tə-fĭ-kā′shən)

The transformation of land once suitable for agriculture into desert. Desertification can result from climate change or from human practices such as cutting down forests or allowing too many animals to graze in a particular area.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

desertification

1. The process by which land that has been farmed or inhabited becomes changed into desert, usually through climatic change or overfarming.

2. Fertile land becoming unproductive desert, often due to overcropping and overgrazing.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

desertification - the gradual transformation of habitable land into desert; is usually caused by climate change or by destructive use of the land; "the dust storms in Korea are the result of rapid desertification in China"

geologic process, geological process - (geology) a natural process whereby geological features are modified

Translations

Desertifikation

désertification

desertification

[ˌdezɜːtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən] N → desertización f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

desertification

[dɪˌzɜː^rtɪfɪˈkeɪʃ^ən] n → désertification f

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

desertification

[dɪˌzɜːtɪfɪˈkeɪʃ/ən] n → desertificazione f

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

Morocco has been participating effectively in developing partnerships with OSS member countries in order to face the challenges of desertification and other environmental issues, Fezzani told MAP on the sidelines of a meeting of the Observatory's executive board.

Morocco, leading African country in integrating environmental policy in development- OSS official

KARBALA / Aswat al-Iraq - Southwest Iraq's Karbala Province's Council has signed a cooperation agreement with a Russian University, aimed at fighting desertification in the country, Karbala's Media Director said on Monday.

Karbala signs cooperation agreement with Russian University to fight desertification

Desertification is the degradation of land in already dry parts of the globe that results from various factors, including natural climate changes as well as human activity.

Dear EarthTalk: Can you explain what "desertification" is and why it is an important environmental issue?

Summary: A delegation of Niger's Ministry of Water, Environment and Desertification Control has been on a visit to Algeria since a week to take the most of Algeria's experience in the chlorination and disinfection of drinking water.

Drinking water disinfection: Niger interested in Algeria's experience

ISLAMABAD, June 17 -- World Day to Combat Desertification (WDCD) will be commemorated today (June 17) in remembrance of adoption of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).

World Day to Combat Desertification

CAIRO: As desertification dries up farmland across the Arab world, the region's governments cannot remedy concerns about food security solely by looking to Africa for agricultural production, a regional expert said.

African land grab not a cure to Arab food concerns

In his latest column ('How to stop desertification', African Business, July 2009 issue) he takes on the question of increasing desertification and practical solutions to halt, or at least slow, this disturbing and damaging phenomenon.

One problem, many answers

The World Day to Combat Desertification is observed every year on 17 June.

World Day to Combat Desertification 2009

In conclusions adopted at the end of the General Affairs Council of July 23, EU foreign ministers have stressed "the urgency of continuous, enhanced and vigorous efforts at all levels to achieve the global target of accomplishing the Millennium Development Goals and to significantly reduce the expansion of areas affected by desertification".

EU/UN : COMBATING POVERTY, DESERTIFICATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE

PESHAWAR -- Un-seemingly million hectares of productive land are gradually being lost to desertification world over either due to mismanagement or climate change which greatly affects economy, agricultural productivity and food security.

Challenge of desertification: A looming threat to food security

Summary: New Delhi [India], Aug 27 (ANI): Underlining that desertification is a worldwide problem, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday said that India will aim to convert degraded land of nearly 50 lakh hectares to fertile land by 2030.

India pledges to restore 50 lakh hectares of degraded land by 2030: Javadekar