Land degradation and desertification
Land degradation has accelerated during the 20th century due to increasing pressures of agricultural and livestock production, urbanisation, deforestation, and extreme weather events. This is stressing the world's arable lands and pastures essential for the provision of food and water and quality air.
These social and environmental processes are stressing the world's arable lands and pastures essential for the provision of food and water and quality air. Land degradation and desertification can affect human health through complex pathways. As land is degraded and deserts expand in some places, food production is reduced, water sources dry up and populations are pressured to move to more hospitable areas.