Anthropogenic drivers induced desertification under changing climate: Issues, policy interventions, and the way forward

Abstract

A study of the extended desertification due to anthropogenic causes under climate change (CC) associated with its impact is presented here. Desertification, the main environmental issue, severely impacts agricultural output, causing poverty and economic instability in a nation like India. The regional distribution of desertification was determined using the RF and MaxEnt models. The western, central, and southern portions of the nation are very high, high, and moderately susceptible to desertification, respectively, according to the RF model. The MaxEnt model indicates that the western, central, and southern parts of the country exhibit a significant susceptibility to desertification, with the eastern parts also showing a moderate level of vulnerability. The remaining portion of this region, mainly in the north, east, and northeast, is particularly resistant to desertification. The outcome demonstrated that the country's desertification process had expanded from the west to the south. However, there are some spatial differences associated with the mentioned part of the country. This relevant information is crucial for decision maker of this country to take suitable remedies in regard to the reduction of the intensity of desertification.