What is a major consequence of land degradation?

What is a major consequence of land degradation?

• A. It improves soil quality globally.
• B. It reduces carbon emissions significantly.
• C. It harms the well-being of about 3.2 billion people and leads to species extinction.
• D. It increases storm frequency in all regions.

Answer: (C)

Land degradation reduces the ability of land to support people and ecosystems, damaging soil, water, and habitat services. When soils lose fertility and structure, crop yields fall, livelihoods disappear, and food insecurity rises; this spreads poverty and can force people to migrate in search of safer resources. At the same time, degraded habitats lose biodiversity, pushing many species toward extinction. Taken together, these social and ecological harms describe a major consequence of land degradation: it undermines well-being for billions and threatens species diversity. The other statements don’t fit as well. Degradation does not improve soil quality; it generally makes soils poorer and less productive. It also tends to release stored carbon from soils and vegetation, contributing to higher atmospheric carbon rather than reducing emissions. And while climate change can influence storm patterns, degradation does not universally increase storm frequency in all regions.

Land degradation reduces the ability of land to support people and ecosystems, damaging soil, water, and habitat services. When soils lose fertility and structure, crop yields fall, livelihoods disappear, and food insecurity rises; this spreads poverty and can force people to migrate in search of safer resources. At the same time, degraded habitats lose biodiversity, pushing many species toward extinction. Taken together, these social and ecological harms describe a major consequence of land degradation: it undermines well-being for billions and threatens species diversity.

The other statements don’t fit as well. Degradation does not improve soil quality; it generally makes soils poorer and less productive. It also tends to release stored carbon from soils and vegetation, contributing to higher atmospheric carbon rather than reducing emissions. And while climate change can influence storm patterns, degradation does not universally increase storm frequency in all regions.