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Drylands are classified as such due to their distinct lack of water: scrublands, grasslands, savannahs, deserts—these are all drylands. And they're unique because even the slightest reduction of water will throw off the equilibrium of their habitats, and lead to widespread degradation.
And yet, a full third of the entire human population lives in the drylands, according to Green Facts. Which means a huge portion of human beings are ultra-dependent on fragile, water-lacking ecosystems. Which means, around a third of all people are under a rather sever threat of water shortage.
From Green Facts:
| In drylands, water scarcity limits the production of crops, forage, wood, and other services ecosystems provide to humans. Drylands are therefore highly vulnerable to increases in human pressures and climatic variability, especially sub-Saharan and Central Asian drylands. |
As a result, with the ongoing increase of climate change, we're seeing a degradation, or desertification of the drylands?some 10-20&perc; of them have already been degraded. This is especially alarming for the world's impoverished populations, since the poor are the most likely to suffer immediate consequences from widespread water shortage.
Chalk up another reason to fight global warming.
Check out the Planet Green Schedule to catch this episode of Green Your Brain.
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