The soil becomes infertile. As desertification occurs, the soil can be blown or washed away, and valuable soil nutrients are lost. Through the use of unsustainable irrigation techniques, salt can also build up in the soil, rendering the soil useless for growing crops or other plants.

As the soil dries out, it hardens and it becomes difficult for any rainfall that does occur to penetrate below the soil’s surface. And what remains left is a lifeless pile of dust instead of a life-giving medium.

Vegetation is damaged or destroyed. Desertification reduces the ability of land to support plant life. Loose soil bury plants, or their roots become exposed and cannot fulfill their function. With plants dying, rainwater gets washed away instead of being drawn into the soil, which only scales up the problem as remaining plants do not have enough moisture to survive dry spells as they used to.

Additionally, if the land is used for grazing at this stage, it only results in a quicker loss of plant species and total degradation.

Soil erosion. The reduction in plant cover increases the erosion of the soil due to increased runoff and direct exposure to wind. This results in the decrease of water storing capacity of soils.

The process of desertification is worsened as the soil becomes increasingly arid, and there are no more plants to hold it in place and distribute nutrients. Soil erosion is the final step that closes the loop of continual soil deterioration that is impossible to revert.

Disasters. Desertification makes natural disasters worse. Events such as flooding, dust storms, and pollution, all become stronger in areas with heavily degraded soils. Without any plants stabilizing the soil and slowing down the runoff, rainwater easily accumulates and floods human settlements in the blink of an eye.

Except causing damage, flood water also picks up unwanted pollutants while making its progress through urban areas, and that’s how pollution spreads over vast areas.

Polluted sources of drinking water. Vegetation plays an important role in cleaning our water. Plants and trees function like natural filters, storing pollutants such as heavy metals from water in their own bodies.

Barren soils lack this green filter, and therefore, more of these harmful substances enter our groundwater reservoirs.

Famine, poverty, and starvation. Due to drought conditions and a loss of productive land, local people find themselves experiencing famine and poverty, as well as potentially the starvation of themselves and their livestock.