Desertification, simply defined, is land degradation in dryland environments. After over 40 years of international attention, the analysis of the causes and consequences of land degradation in dryland systems remains shrouded in the nuanced complexities of multiple interwoven variables (biophysical, anthropogenic, and climatic) working simultaneously to bring about change in these ecologically and socially vulnerable areas. In order to fully grasp the complexities of desertification, this chapter follows a fivefold approach. First, it provides a synthesis of the history and politicization of the term. Second, it establishes desertification's geospatial context. Third, it identifies the interrelated drivers of land degradation and their impacts, with special focus placed on North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Fourth, it outlines the current approaches to studying land degradation and desertification. Finally, it concludes by situating the desertification dynamic in the context of sustainability and poverty eradication.
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