Which term describes land degradation that results in the loss of productive capacity?

• A. Desertification
• B. Deforestation
• C. Agroecosystem
• D. Wetlands

Answer: (A)

Desertification is the process of land degradation in which productive capacity is lost, especially in drylands, due to a combination of climate variability and human pressures like overgrazing, deforestation, and poor irrigation. This degradation leads to soil erosion, nutrient depletion, reduced water infiltration and storage, and vegetation loss, making it harder for the land to support crops, forage, or livelihoods. While deforestation refers to removing forest cover and is a cause of degradation, it does not by itself describe the broader process of declining productivity. An agroecosystem is simply the farming system used, not the degradation process, and wetlands are a type of ecosystem that can be degraded, but the term doesn’t specifically mean loss of productive capacity. Desertification best matches the description of land degradation that results in reduced productivity.