The end of desertification?

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The title of this book highlights the limitations of a concept that has become a significant political tool, despite a weakening scientific basis. The notion of desertification has lost its analytical utility, distorting our understanding of social-environmental systems and their resilience, especially in impoverished regions with variable rainfall. To improve policy and governance, it is essential to reassess the scientific rationale behind international efforts to combat desertification. Our inquiry begins in the Sahel of West Africa, where severe droughts in the late 20th century led to the widespread acceptance of the desertification idea. It is now clear that these droughts were not primarily due to local land mismanagement, effectively ending a long-standing debate in policy and science. This situation serves as an important case study in the interplay between science, public opinion, and international policymaking. The book includes global case studies that scrutinize the relevance of the desertification concept, revealing that even with a deeper understanding of dryland environments, similar shortcomings persist in its application in parts of Asia. It took scientists over three decades to reframe the perceived desertification crisis in the Sahel into a non-event. This work aims to critically analyze that experience and expedite learning in other regions.