Editing Test:SRCCL/Chapter-1 (section)

== 1.2.1.3 Desertification ==

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The SRCCL adopts the definition of the UNCCD of desertification, being land degradation in arid, semi-arid and dry sub-humid areas (drylands) (Glossary and Section 3.1.1). Desertification results from various factors, including climate variations and human activities, and is not limited to irreversible forms of land degradation (Tal 2010 <sup>[[#fn:r930|930]]</sup> ; Bai et al. 2008 <sup>[[#fn:r931|931]]</sup> ). A critical challenge in the assessment of desertification is to identify a ‘non-desertified’ reference state (Bestelmeyer et al. 2015 <sup>[[#fn:r324|324]]</sup> ). While climatic trends and variability can change the intensity of desertification processes, some authors exclude climate effects, arguing that desertification is a purely human-induced process of land degradation with different levels of severity and consequences (Sivakumar 2007 <sup>[[#fn:r325|325]]</sup> ).

As a consequence of varying definitions and different methodologies, the area of desertification varies widely (D’Odorico et al. 2013 <sup>[[#fn:r326|326]]</sup> ; Bestelmeyer et al. 2015 <sup>[[#fn:r327|327]]</sup> ; and references therein). Arid regions of the world cover up to about 46% of the total terrestrial surface (about 60 million km <sup>2</sup> ) (Pravalie 2016 <sup>[[#fn:r328|328]]</sup> ; Koutroulis 2019 <sup>[[#fn:r329|329]]</sup> ). Around 3 billion people reside in dryland regions (D’Odorico et al. 2013 <sup>[[#fn:r330|330]]</sup> ; Maestre et al. 2016 <sup>[[#fn:r331|331]]</sup> ) (Section 3.1.1). In 2015, about 500 (360–620) million people lived within areas which experienced desertification between 1980s and 2000s (Figure 1.1and Section 3.1.1). The combination of low rainfall with frequently infertile soils renders these regions, and the people who rely on them, vulnerable to both climate change, and unsustainable land management ( ''high confidence'' ). In spite of the national, regional and international efforts to combat desertification, it remains one of the major environmental problems (Abahussain et al. 2002 <sup>[[#fn:r332|332]]</sup> ; Cherlet et al. 2018 <sup>[[#fn:r333|333]]</sup> ).

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