desertified
Turned to wasteland
Desertified describes land that has become desert through climate change, deforestation, or unsustainable farming practices.
The process strips away vegetation and topsoil, leaving barren ground incapable of supporting life: Large swaths of the Sahel have been desertified over the past century.
The verb is desertify; the process is desertification.
Excessive pasture consumption
- deforestationLarge-scale woodland elimination
- salinizationIncreasing salt concentration
- compactionReducing volume through pressure
- overcultivationExhausting soil through excess
Uninhabitable barren region
- desolateBleak and abandoned
- lifelessDevoid of animation
- sterileFree from microorganisms
- unproductiveFailing to achieve results
inhospitable · bleak · empty · void · uninhabited · treeless · denuded · stripped
Complete removal of moisture
- aridityAbsence of moisture
- parchedExtremely dry or thirsty
- drynessAbsence of moisture
- sunbakedDried by solar heat
waterless · parchedness · anhydrous · bone-dry · scorched · baked · hardpan · caliche
Severe food shortage
- displacementRemoval from usual location
- migrationMovement to new territory
- povertySevere lack of resources
Caused by human activity
- heatwavesExtended periods of excessive warmth
- SahelSemi-arid African transition zone
- IPCCUN climate science authority
- irreversibleCannot be undone
overgrazing
Excessive pasture consumption
- deforestationLarge-scale woodland elimination
- salinizationIncreasing salt concentration
- compactionReducing volume through pressure
wasteland
Uninhabitable barren region
unproductive · inhospitable · bleak · empty · void · uninhabited · treeless · denuded · stripped · stark
desiccation
Complete removal of moisture
sunbaked · waterless · parchedness · anhydrous · bone-dry · scorched · baked · hardpan · caliche · saltpan
famine
Severe food shortage
- displacementRemoval from usual location
- migrationMovement to new territory
- povertySevere lack of resources
anthropogenic
Caused by human activity
desertifiedlush
Richly abundant in growth
verdant · fertile · vegetated · forested · reforested
desertifiedirrigated
Supplied water artificially
watered · hydrated · saturated · flooded · waterlogged
desertifiedreforested
Planted with trees again
revegetated · reclaimed · restored · rewilded · rehabilitated