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International Year of Deserts |
| Land degradation affects the quantity and quality of freshwater supplies. Drought and desertification are associated with lower water levels in rivers, lakes, and aquifers. For example, unsustainable irrigation practices can dry the rivers that feed large lakes; the Aral Sea and Lake Chad have both seen their shorelines shrink dramatically in this way. Water crises are raising political tensions in many parts of the world, particularly where rivers and lakes are shared across borders. Land degradation is also a leading source of land-based pollution for the oceans, as polluted sediment and water washes down major rivers. A man sits on a dried-out riverbed with his water jugs nearby. UN Photo #NICA 74868 |
Information source: UNCCD
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