Deforestation is not the only cause of desertification. Land can turn dry and barren due to drought, shifts in the climate or aggressive agricultural or grazing practices. All of these causes, along with deforestation, lead to the loss of vegetation in the area.

How does deforestation result in desertification?

Explanation: Deforestation removes the trees which hold the soil together by their roots. Removing the trees leaves the soil bare to wind and other elements which leads to desertification since the top soil is blown away, dried out or washed away by rain.

What causes of desertification?

Human causes of desertification include overgrazing, the buildup of salt in irrigated soils, and topsoil erosion. Permanent changes in climate, particularly rainfall, are responsible for natural desertification. Extended droughts may mimic desertification, but vegetation may recover when seasonal rains return.