Why is Africa especially vulnerable to desertification?

Africa is particularly vulnerable to desertification due to a combination of fragile ecosystems, climatic variability, and intense human pressure on the land. Approximately 65 percent of the continent consists of drylands, which are inherently characterized by sparse or variable rainfall. These ecosystems are highly sensitive to climatic shifts, such as periodic, extended droughts that can rapidly reduce biological productivity.1234

This natural vulnerability is exacerbated by unsustainable land-management practices driven by a rapidly growing population. Key factors include:13

• Overexploitation: Increasing demands for food and fuel have led to overfarming and the stripping of tree and scrub cover, which removes essential protection for the soil.34
• Overgrazing: Excessive numbers of livestock deplete remaining grass cover, leaving the soil exposed to wind and water erosion.34
• Agricultural Stress: Traditional subsistence farming and the lack of integration between crop production and animal husbandry often limit the ability to maintain soil fertility, while intensive cultivation in some areas further degrades the land.5

When fertile topsoil is lost to erosion, the land becomes barren, creating a cycle where the desert can advance into neighboring savannas.34