Drylands

Drylands are places with very little water.

The sun dries the ground quickly. This makes the land very thirsty.

Some drylands have a few plants. Other drylands have almost no plants at all. These lands cover a big part of our Earth.

More than two billion people live there. They rely on the land for food. People must move to find water and grass.

Changing weather can make these lands even drier. This makes it hard for plants to grow. It can also hurt the soil.

We can help by fixing the land. This helps the people and the animals too.

Drylands are places where water is hard to find.

In these areas, rain is low. The sun dries up the water from the ground and plants. This is called evapotranspiration.

There are four main types of drylands. First are dry and sub-humid lands. These have some plants and can grow many crops. Next are semi-arid lands. These get between 500 and 800mm of rain each year. Then come arid lands. Finally, there are hyper-arid lands. These are very dry and have almost no plants.

Drylands cover 41.3% of the Earth's land. More than 2 billion people live there. Many people use animals like cattle to make a living. They often move their herds to find new grass.

Climate change is a big problem for drylands. It can cause more droughts and hurt the soil. This is called land degradation. We can help by using land restoration. This means doing work to help the land recover. This helps both people and nature stay healthy.

Drylands are special parts of our world where water is hard to find.

These areas are defined by a scarcity of water. In these places, the amount of rain is balanced by evaporation from the ground. This happens when the sun dries up water from surfaces. Plants also release water into the air through a process called evapotranspiration.

These lands are very important because they host complex ecosystems. The health of these areas depends on how climate, soil, and plants work together.

Scientists group drylands into four different types based on how dry they are. First, there are dry and sub-humid lands. These areas can have many different types of plants and grow many crops. Next are semi-arid lands, which usually get 500 to 800mm of rain every year.

Then come arid lands, which cover about 10% of the world's land. Finally, there are hyper-arid lands.

These are the driest places and often have almost no plants at all.

Drylands cover a huge part of our planet. They make up 41.3% of the Earth's land surface. This includes 66% of Africa and 40% of Asia.

They also cover 24% of Europe and 15% of Latin America. More than 2 billion people call these dry places home. Many people live in developing countries, where 72% of drylands are found. In fact, almost 100% of all hyper-arid lands are in the developing world.

Climate change is a big challenge for these lands. It can cause land degradation, which means the land becomes less healthy. This leads to more droughts and soil erosion.

Between 1982 and 2015, 12.6% of the world's drylands were degraded by climate change. This affects 213 million people. In recent decades, an area half the size of Australia has changed from humid to dry. These changes make it harder for people to grow food.

People living in drylands have clever ways to adapt. In East Africa, many people are pastoralists who rely on cattle.

They move their herds strategically to find fresh grass during the dry season. They can also change how they manage water or move their animals earlier. We can also help by using land restoration. This means doing intentional work to help a degraded ecosystem recover. This helps both nature and people stay strong.

Drylands are unique ecosystems defined by a significant scarcity of water. In these regions, the amount of precipitation is balanced by evaporation from surfaces. Plants also contribute to this balance through evapotranspiration, which is the release of water vapor into the air.

These areas are complex systems where climate, soil, and vegetation interact constantly. The health of these ecosystems is vital for global biodiversity and human well-being. They also play a role in helping to halt climate change through carbon sequestration.

Scientists classify drylands into four distinct sub-types based on their level of aridity. The first type is dry and sub-humid lands, which include biomes like grassland savannahs and Mediterranean climates. These areas are highly productive and support many different crops and livestock.

The second type is semi-arid lands, where annual rainfall typically ranges between 500 and 800mm. Third are arid lands, which cover approximately 10% of the Earth's land surface. Finally, hyper-arid lands are the driest zones, covering about 8% of the world. These hyper-arid regions often have little to no vegetation and receive very irregular rainfall.

Drylands cover a massive portion of our planet, totaling 41.3% of the Earth's land surface. This includes 66% of Africa, 40% of Asia, 24% of Europe, and 15% of Latin America. More than 2 billion people live within these dryland ecosystems. A large majority of these inhabitants live in developing countries, which contain 72% of the world's drylands. In fact, almost 100% of all hyper-arid lands are located in the developing world. However, countries like the United States, Australia, and those in Southern Europe also contain significant dryland areas.

Climate change presents a severe threat to the stability of these environments. Between 1982 and 2015, anthropogenic climate change caused the degradation of 12.6% of the world's drylands. This degradation leads to increased droughts, desertification, and soil erosion. Such changes reduce soil fertility and the ability of the land to sequester carbon. These factors directly impact local agriculture and food security for millions. Currently, land degradation in drylands affects 213 million people, mostly in the Global South.

Recent decades have seen a dramatic shift in global landscapes. About 7.6% of global land has transitioned into drier conditions. This means land has either become more arid or shifted from non-drylands into drylands. This shift is equivalent to an area half the size of Australia transforming from humid to dry. In semi-arid lands, climate change manifests through increased precipitation variability. This includes shorter rainy seasons and more frequent, violent wind events. Such weather patterns can prevent the buildup of necessary soil moisture.

In regions like East Africa, people have developed specific ways to survive. Many rural inhabitants are pastoralists who rely on cattle for their economic and cultural well-being.

To manage scarce resources, they use strategic movement to find pasture during the dry season. They may also reduce herd sizes or change how they manage water. In some countries like Burkina Faso, Senegal, Mali, and Kenya, people are also becoming proactive by engaging in trade and transport. These adaptation strategies help communities remain resilient despite unpredictable rainfall.

Restoration is a key tool used to protect these vital ecosystems. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) defines restoration as actions that protect or recover natural ecosystems. This can be done by restoring degraded areas to their previous functional state. It can also involve preventative management to support ongoing ecosystem services. One major example is the Great Green Wall project in the Sahel region.

By using sustainable land management and climate-smart agriculture, we can help mitigate the impacts of desertification.