Arid regions and deserts worldwide are among the most harsh physical climates in which humans live.

Did you know that arid regions are expanding globally through a process known as "desertification"?

Visit the web portal of the United Nations Environment Programme Secretariat of the Convention to Combat Desertification to learn of this global issue facing human societies.

Once you have spent some time familiarizing yourself with the concepts and issues surrounding desertification, answer the questions below:

1. Describe what desertification is in your own words.

2. What are some of the primary causes of desertification?

3. Describe the relative contributions of natural processes and human activities to desertification.

4. How many people worldwide are vulnerable to desertification? What proportion of the global human population is this?

5. Describe some of the consequences of desertification.

6. Describe at least three possible strategies to help combat desertification worldwide.

7. To what degree do you think people can overcome processes leading to desertification? What role does natural climate variability play in advancing desertification?

8. Is desertification considered strictly a problem of the developing world and expanding human populations? Are people in developed nations vulnerable to desertification directly? Indirectly?

9. Can principles of sustainable development be relied upon to help control desertification?