An area of land nearly one-third the size of India has been converted from wet land to dryland, that is, arid regions where agriculture is difficult – in the last three decades, according to a research.
Drylands now make up 40% of all land on our planet, excluding Antarctics. Three-quarters of the planet's land has experienced drier conditions in the last 30 years, which are likely to be permanent, UN Science Policy study finds Interface, of a group of scientists convened by the United Nations.
Africa lost about 12% of its GDP due to increasing drought between 1990 and 2015, according to the report. Even worse losses are predicted: Africa will lose about 16% of its GDP, and Asia close to 7%, over the next half decade.
Ibrahim Thiaw, executive secretary of his group ΟΗΕ to combat desertification (UNCCD from the UN convention to combat desertification), said:
“In contrast to anemonas – temporary periods of low rainfall – drought represents a permanent, unrelenting transformation. In droughts, the climate of a regionς γίνεται πιο ξηρό, ωστόσο, η ικανότητα επιστροφής στις προηγούμενες συνθήκες χάνεται, και αυτή η αλλαγή επαναπροσδιορίζει τη ζωή στη Γη”.
Certain crops are particularly at risk:
Maize yields are projected to halve in Kenya by 2050 if current trends continue.
Drylands are areas where 90% of rainfall is lost to evaporation, leaving only 10% for vegetation.
Two-thirds of the world's land will store less water by mid-century, according to the report published on Monday.
