Many things can cause desertification. Drought, overgrazing, fire, and deforestation can thin out vegetation, leaving exposed soil. ... Overfarming or drought can change the soil so that rain no longer penetrates, and the plants lose the water they need to grow.

What are the 3 main causes of desertification?

Do natural droughts cause desertification?

The UN has defined desertification as a “diminution or destruction of the biological potential of the land which can lead ultimately to desert-like conditions.” Desertification can occur when extended periods of drought in arid, semi-arid, or dry sub-humid areas — known as drylands — sap the land's productivity until ...