desertification
noun
de·sert·i·fi·ca·tion di-ˌzər-tə-fə-ˈkā-shən 
: the process of becoming desert (as from land mismanagement or climate change)
desertify
di-ˈzər-tə-ˌfī
transitive verb 
Example Sentences
The organization was awarded for its efforts to prevent further desertification in Africa.
Recent Examples on the Web Indeed the Sahel and the Maghreb have experienced widening desertification and, alongside it, frantic humanitarian crises and growing violence, especially from Islamic extremists. 
Sam Kiley, CNN, 2 Aug. 2022 This situation is being made more dire by the accelerating effects of climate change, which has intensified desertification throughout large areas of the caatinga and has permanently reduced the potential reclaimable habitat (ref). Grrlscientist, Forbes, 15 June 2022 What will stem the expansion of local news desertification is unclear, though there’s no dearth of initiatives. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2022 Angelina Tarimo, a coordinator at the LEAD Foundation, has been working with local communities in places such as Pembamoto, a village in the Dodoma region, where desertification is a growing threat. Thomas Page, CNN, 18 July 2022 The biggest problem is desertification and trying to protect the thin topsoil from the winds. Stephanie Pearson, Outside Online, 4 Mar. 2015 The Asian nation is one of many places in the world grappling with worsening drought and desertification amid global climate change. Min Joo Kim, Washington Post, 16 June 2022 As a result of these extreme changes in precipitation, the caatinga is very fragile and vulnerable to desertification, particularly from livestock grazing as well as land clearing. Grrlscientist, Forbes, 15 June 2022 According to the United Nations, 23 hectares of arable land are lost to drought and desertification every minute, and studies have found that aridity affects 40% of agricultural soil. Rebecca Cairns, CNN, 8 May 2022 See More
Sam Kiley, CNN, 2 Aug. 2022 This situation is being made more dire by the accelerating effects of climate change, which has intensified desertification throughout large areas of the caatinga and has permanently reduced the potential reclaimable habitat (ref). Grrlscientist, Forbes, 15 June 2022 What will stem the expansion of local news desertification is unclear, though there’s no dearth of initiatives. Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 29 Aug. 2022 Angelina Tarimo, a coordinator at the LEAD Foundation, has been working with local communities in places such as Pembamoto, a village in the Dodoma region, where desertification is a growing threat. Thomas Page, CNN, 18 July 2022 The biggest problem is desertification and trying to protect the thin topsoil from the winds. Stephanie Pearson, Outside Online, 4 Mar. 2015 The Asian nation is one of many places in the world grappling with worsening drought and desertification amid global climate change. Min Joo Kim, Washington Post, 16 June 2022 As a result of these extreme changes in precipitation, the caatinga is very fragile and vulnerable to desertification, particularly from livestock grazing as well as land clearing. Grrlscientist, Forbes, 15 June 2022 According to the United Nations, 23 hectares of arable land are lost to drought and desertification every minute, and studies have found that aridity affects 40% of agricultural soil. Rebecca Cairns, CNN, 8 May 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1972, in the meaning defined above