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Deserts and Semi-deserts
Nearly 10 million square kilometers of land are hyperarid or true desert with low and erratic rainfall. The Sahara covers 70 percent of the hyper-arid areas. Semideserts have more rain but plants cover no more than 80 percent of the ground. Temperate deserts and semideserts (cold deserts) cover another 6 million square kilometers. It is not true that all deserts have low biodiversity-all terrestrial groups are represented and many are endemic (unique) to the deserts. Many larger vertebrates are threatened by hunting and habitat loss. Domestic livestock and introduced species, off-road vehicles and irrigation also cause harm. True deserts should be distinguished from grasslands that have been desertified.
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Keywords deserts, desertification, reforestation, ecosystems, biodiversity, arid climates, erosion, evapotranspiration, desert encroachment, semideserts, temperate deserts, polar deserts, drylands, cold deserts, overgrazing, off-road vehicles, invasives |
Photo Sources
Top right: Sahara dunes
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Flag comment for removal MichaelK 10 months ago
when I click on the "Organizations" link on the right side of the pg, I don't get any results. Other aofs didnt have the same problem, but maybe there are more that do.
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