Desertification is primarily exacerbated by which combination of factors?

Desertification is primarily exacerbated by which combination of factors?

• A. Reforestation and sustainable grazing
• B. Excessive rainfall and climate change
• C. Urbanization with impermeable surfaces
• D. Deforestation, overgrazing, and unsustainable farming

Answer: (D)

Desertification happens when land loses its ability to support vegetation and crops because the soil is degraded, dries out, and can no longer retain water. The strongest combination of factors is the removal of vegetation (deforestation), overgrazing that wears away protective plant cover and compacts soil, and farming practices that exhaust soil nutrients and promote erosion (unsustainable farming). Without vegetation, soils are exposed to wind and rain; overgrazing reduces ground cover and soil structure; unsustainable farming further depletes nutrients and can lead to salinization or erosion. The result is a landscape that becomes desert-like, especially in dry regions. Reforestation and sustainable grazing would help prevent desertification. Excessive rainfall and climate change can influence patterns, but they are not the primary drivers in the same direct, land-degrading way. Urbanization with impermeable surfaces also changes local hydrology but does not capture the widespread land degradation characteristic of desertification.

Desertification happens when land loses its ability to support vegetation and crops because the soil is degraded, dries out, and can no longer retain water. The strongest combination of factors is the removal of vegetation (deforestation), overgrazing that wears away protective plant cover and compacts soil, and farming practices that exhaust soil nutrients and promote erosion (unsustainable farming). Without vegetation, soils are exposed to wind and rain; overgrazing reduces ground cover and soil structure; unsustainable farming further depletes nutrients and can lead to salinization or erosion. The result is a landscape that becomes desert-like, especially in dry regions.

Reforestation and sustainable grazing would help prevent desertification. Excessive rainfall and climate change can influence patterns, but they are not the primary drivers in the same direct, land-degrading way. Urbanization with impermeable surfaces also changes local hydrology but does not capture the widespread land degradation characteristic of desertification.