The End of Desertification?

More about the book

The title of this book highlights the shortcomings of a concept that has become a significant political tool, even as its scientific foundation weakens. The notion of desertification may no longer be analytically useful and distorts our understanding of social-environmental systems and their resilience, especially in impoverished nations with variable rainfall. For improved policy and governance, we must reassess the scientific rationale behind international efforts to combat desertification. Our investigation begins in the Sahel of West Africa, where severe droughts in the late 20th century led to the widespread adoption of the desertification idea. Evidence now suggests these droughts were not primarily due to local land mismanagement, effectively ending a long-standing debate. This situation offers a valuable lesson on the interplay between science, public opinion, and international policy-making. The book includes case studies from around the globe that explore the relevance of the desertification concept. Despite advancements in understanding dryland environments, the application of this concept in parts of Asia reveals similar flaws as those seen in earlier African studies. It took scientists over three decades to reframe the perceived desertification crisis in the Sahel into a non-event. This book aims to critically analyze that experience and expedite the learning process elsewhere.