Land use and cover: Percentage of arid lands (WRI)
Arid lands cover roughly 40 % of the total world's surface. These
areas are sensitive to water abstractions for other uses.
Especially desertification is of growing concern in many regions
including the Sahel. It is due to a combination of water, for
instance diversion of water for irrigated agriculture, and land
use, for instance overgrazing by cattle.
